Date: 2016-02-23
From: Trail Chef's House

To: Trail Chef's House
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

Subman, Suds, and I are at Trail Chef's beautiful home where we continue to mend and monitor Storm Petros. It seems we are becoming "Storm Sitters" instead of "Storm Chasers". This adventure is more of a marathon than a sprint, with millions of steps totaling the equivalent of 26 Mount Everest climbs, so I am very grateful for this safe haven. Trail Chef does his Travis McGee magic (fun detective series of books by John MacDonald) and creates a delicious breakfast combining various ingredients from his abundantly stocked kitchen. I have been a notorious picky eater but I will eat anything he prepares without hesitation.Trail Chef and Judy proudly show us Franklin's impressive library. Like the AT, the people add so much and we are openly embraced and welcomed. Subman identifies Kountry Kitchen as a desired lunch stop and he was so right. A burger here shouldn't be missed if you are in town. Outdoor 76 is well-known within AT thru-hiker commentaries as having phenomenal abilities to solve foot issues. I started with hiking boots that felt comfortable during my miles of training in park-like conditions but I feel, after these first 70 miles, that their skills can be of value. I hear Judy and Trail Chef ask Rob to take care of me and he does. Outdoor 76 is unlike most stores in that there is an extended conversation about what issues have brought you here and their approach to be responsive to your specific pursuit. If retail proprietors brought this same experience then I don't think internet sales would have replaced so many brick and mortar stores. I leave very happy with my New Balance Endurance trail runners feeling very confident about what I'll be wearing. I notice that Suds purchased a pair of Crocs to change into after each day's hike and that Trail Chef made a purchase too. Subman came out with a slightly used personal favorite pair of hiking boots that are no longer being made. I witnessed the exchange between Outdoor 76's Rob and Subman and can't decide whether it was Rob's beyond generous offer and care about his clients or Subman's skilled yogi abilities. What I saw in this transaction was Subman walking out happy with another pair of his favorite hiking boots and he did it without paying a dime. Subman now has 3 pairs of these boots and thinks they'll get him to the AT's northern terminus of Mt. Katahdin in Maine. Thru-hikers routinely go through 3 - 4 pairs while hiking the AT. Back "home", we each take time to further relax and do what we want. For me, catching up with Beth was the highlight. We honestly share that it seems like we've been away much longer than it has been. It is heartening to hear that she thinks she has now gotten into a rhythm with me not being there and she openly states the challenge of being separated. I easily relate to this and admit that a tear is forming as I write this now. I miss her. Despite all the wonderful encounters each day brings the reality is that being separated is very hard.I rejoin Subman and Suds and soon smell the aroma of Trail Chef's next treasured meal. A joke is made about the portion Subman initially takes. I thank Subman for taking so much because it opened the door for me to take a similar amount. Better yet, I took almost as much in a second helping as Judy smilingly said that it should be eaten until it is gone. During this hike, thru-hikers often fantasize and talk of upcoming desired meals. I look forward to remembering this one because what I ate wasn't spaghetti. It may have looked like spaghetti but it was so much more than that. Conversation between us flowed and I am sure that happens routinely around this kitchen table. As dinner progressed I became aware that I was enjoying another great AT moment even though I was miles off the trail. Trail Chef freely talks in a quiet, soft-spoken manner. He and Judy are fascinating people. My fascination led to an inquiry about his varied life and I honestly say that I wish I had a recording of what ensued. Harry Chapin and James Taylor are my all-time favorite musicians with me loving the stories, characters, and tunes that they create. I think Harry would be the one to put Trail Chef's story to music as it moved from one chapter to the next with so many funny and remarkable stories artfully woven together. In the end, I literally begged Trail Chef to get his storylines on some form of media so that it can be shared with his children and their children. I'd love to be given a copy myself but realize that such a request may be asking too much. I know that I am grateful to have heard it tonight. This story begins with a phlebotomist - Suds and Judy share their related stories too. Within this story are tales of the 400 and 700 pound challenges. It moves to an extensive career in the VA with many turns that each have delightful specific story lines of intrigue and Trail Chef's transition from one responsible position to the next. I don't now recall how he became the personal chef to the Governor of Alabama and to creating meals in two-week increments for stars that include Danny DeVito, Ewan McGregor, Jessica Lange, and other notables. I just know that I was mesmerized by the story of the little boy that threw up all over Trail Chef and how Trail Chef cleaned the boy up and sent him to his mother who was showering upstairs. We all had our mouths drop as we heard of an unnamed actor's wife who greeted Trail Chef at the door in a see-through negligee and continued to speak with him until Trail Chef had to embarrassingly ask this beautiful woman to put other clothing on. There was story of the Hyundai CEO who thanked him for the Korean meal Trail Chef concocted while never having previously prepared a Korean meal. The story of the Alabama governor who called Trail Chef out from the kitchen to have him whisper into his ear how he should eat the prawns that were on his plate - and the side story of the serving staff that seemingly had to be talked to in order to get them to serve the prawns so that the serving plate was presented with the delicacy looking at the diners. This story of a life is a treasure and I repeat my request that this story be written and that your stories be written, if anyone is still reading. Southbounders was identified at the Franklin library by Subman and Suds as being their favorite AT movie. I never heard of it before. It is a terrific telling of the AT trail as experienced by college-age female southbounder. The subtelties in the movie are extensive and I feel that my enjoyment of this movie was greatly enhanced as Subman and Trail Chef pointed out this and that. Subman said he thinks he has watched it thrirty times and I wonder how many times I'll watch it. Spirit of 76 sent a message while we were watching a second movie. Spirit is okay but is probably visiting the same Doctor who treated me. Spirit has caught us so it seems likely fhat we'll chat tomorrow about our intentions to hike out of Dick's Creek Gap on Thursday. A neat aside is that one of Spirit's friends had contacted me through this journal and I was able to provide her info that Spirit is okay. I didn't hike today. It has been raining very hard outside while this has been written in the early morning hours. I can't wait to get back out hiking again but find myself so grateful for having so many memories that I'll be able to have of this day.