Date: 2007-05-18
From: Waynesboro Ymca

To: Damascus, Va
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

ok, trail days this day: But I want to continue my story on my hike in 1990: "Mountain Mike" had just hitched up to Springer and I just finished a wild ride with "Tommie Boy and Ole Blue" and was dropped off near Dallas, Ga(a strange coincidence), penniless. I woke up the next day with the same goal as the start of the day before: get to Springer Mtn! I had enough food as it turned out to get to Fontana Dam! Anyway, I dont want to get ahead of myself. I woke up and used my road map to follow back country Ga roads to get to Amicalola Falls. I walked all day on the pavement dodging cars and occasionally begging for water at houses and highway work crews. I even filtered water with my First Need filter out of the Tapoccoa(spelling?) River. To this day; the most polluted water that I have ever drank! All the while, I was cussing Mike. I was both hurt and mad; a bad combination. It lead to my first Trail name, "The Day Stalker". I was going to get that some beach. I started getting really tired. Now, I was in my early natural prime; so, I was moving(probably 40 miles a day). At one point a farmer waved me over and gave me some good victuals. He called them "vittles" though. He wanted me to stay in his field; but, it was still kind of early. It was around 3pm and I wanted to keep moving. At about this time; the farmers daughters came out. A little younger than I; but, full of smiles and asking and urging me to stay. I knew I had to get out of there then. I knew I would get in trouble! As I walked down the road; still not hitch-hiking mind you, a vehicle stopped and offered me a ride. I told him my situation and the guy said he understood; but, was so nice, I got in the car. He was a smallish, balding man, and very talkative. He said that I could come and stay at his place and take a shower. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and my Dallas sophistication had me wondering? Then the guy pulled out some pornographic magazines and showed them to me and then I knew. This guy's gay! "Not that there is anything wrong with it"; but, I had all kinds of things rushing through my head. Mainly, stuff about John Wayne Gasey and being concerned that the doors may lock on me and I could not get out; so, what would any good old fashioned drill sargent do? I told him that I hoped that he was not gay and coming on to me because I would have to whoop his ass! The car stopped immediately and I stepped out. Now, I am "gay friendly" as they say in Dallas; but, I had to get out of that car. Hell, Im a survivor! Anyway, I had to camp in a vacant lot totally covered in trees and noticed for the first time how stars look a little like Christmas lights silhouetted against them. The next morning, I headed out again with Springer on my mind, undaunted! I walked again with all the vigor of a young determined "Day Stalker". I did about 30 miles and was so close and my right calf muscle began giving out on me. Never in my life had this happened. I had a multi-vitamin that I had been saving and took it with alot of water. I knew that I needed to camp; but, I could not find a spot that did not have a "NO TRESPASSING" sign. At the end of my rope; I finally found a spot and hung my bear bag(a bag you hang in a tree to keep the bears from getting it) and set up my tent. I slept well.... That is until around daylight when I heard someone yell, "COME ON OUT OF THERE!" I popped out of my tent with my private parts hanging out of my ripped cotton long johns and my hands held high. This was due to the fact that this guy had a shotgun pointing right at me! I started talking a mile a minute, "Im sorry for camping here, I did not see a no trespassing sign, Im just trying to get to the Appalachian Trail, it is a trail that goes from Amicalola Falls to Maine, I swear dont shoot me!" The old fella broke a smile (I had to look and sound funny as hell) and lite a cigarette. He said," I saw your food bag and I have already went through it. We have had alot of drugs dropped from planes recently and I wanted to make sure. Ill give you about 30 minutes to get out of here!" I said, "Thanks!" And packed up and got the "Sam Hill" out of there. Whew, thanks lord! I walked like a mad man and I fianlly saw the sign for Amicalola Falls & looked to my right and saw a gate that has some old testament scripture on it. I cannot remember what it said but it was something like "and unto the hills the lord went." I remember a ray of light and I got real emotional. Now in those days; Amicalola was just an old general store with a scale to weigh your pack and a trail register. I remember my pack weighed 75 pounds. Today there is a lodge; visitor center; campsites; showers; and nice steps going up to the AT. Ill finish here for now; but, I remember how happy I was to get here and I stopped to light a fire in an elevated fire pit to cook my country ham when a Ranger drove up and said,"Hey, I dont know what your thinkin' or who you think you are; but, you cant camp here!" It took everything I had to bite my tongue and just say, "Im just cooking and then Ill leave". Thinking to myself, "what a welcoming party and Ill whoop that ..........