Month: July 2018

Instead of getting a shower and doing laundry at Neels Gap yesterday, all I did was buy a new raincoat and shoe inserts, got lunch, and charged my phone, then carried on. This means on the 26th, today, I am becoming quite ripe. Sleeping is the dead giveaway. At night my thighs are sticky from the built up sweat. I rinsed them, and gave them a good go over with some Gold Bond, but to no avail. Still sticky.

Yesterday was pretty nice out though, to spite the 80 degree heat wave. In fact, it helped dry some of my clothes and gear. I stopped mid day and aired them out. Funny thing is the rain coat I had brought with me, the one I replaced at Neels Gap, still has yet to dry out one iota. It’s almost drippy still. I’m shipping it home as soon as I get to Top Of Georgia Hostel which should be later today. It probably weighs an entire pound with all the water it holds. Worst rain coat EVER! You suck Acer!

Thank God there was no rain last night or today, but I am having a rough go. The first day out was my strongest, which is pretty typical, but my numbers as far as miles complete are bunk. I’ve gotten slower each day. I’m thinking it doesn’t help that it rained for two straight days, my first two days out… And I’m almost out of toilet paper! Noooo!!!!

God, the universe, Buddha, whatever, may be trying to tell me something.

This is going to be a long days hike to Top of Georgia Hostel. When I get there I’m going to adjust gear, eat, resupply, shower, do laundry, and sleep. I’m hoping things get speedier soon. A night in a bunk instead of the tent will help renew my enthusiasm.

It’s morning and everything is still soaked, dripping soaked. I’m less than 5 miles from Neels Gap, where I’m hoping their washing machine and dryer still work. The debate in my head at this hour is whether to put on all my soaked clothes in chilly weather and walk in to Neels Gap or go in in my dry clothes and hope it doesn’t rain.

Think I’m going to go in wet clothes. I’m positive the trail is soaked and there are probably plenty of puddles still. So, at minimum it doesn’t make sense to put on clean, dry socks, or anything clean and dry for that matter.

I just checked the radar and it says by 9AM the storms will be back, so…

P.S. Got bit by a tick the day before I got on trail. No rash, but it’s itchy and I’m concerned about how long it was on me for. Will have to deal with that when I get back.

7AM – Summit Springer Mountain, GA

Started from Springer a little on the late side. It had been pretty cold all night and I got close to no sleep although I had made camp the night before quite early.

The morning though was pleasant and I made my way quite swiftly through most of the day. There was rain throughout, in spurts, but nothing major.

Around 6:30 I decided to go the distance. I had over 20 miles in already and figured if I hiked into the night I could pass Neels Gap, bringing me to over 35 miles for the day.

Weather put a damper on that plan though. Phone service is sketchy sometimes, pretty typical, but I got lazy checking my radar app when I did have service and subsequently got surprised by a big storm, while I was in an area that literally provided no close shelter.

So I threw on my rain jacket and decided to hike through to Blood Mountain shelter at least, but the storm was too much. Everything was slippery, mud was up to ankle high and the trail turned into a river. Also, it appears my $50 Acer rain jacket is not water proof. I’m not sure why Acer would make a rain jacket that rain can get in, but either way, I need a new one. I finally gave in around 9PM and made camp (in the rain) at first opportunity.

I was soaked. And everything I was wearing was soaked. I had some warm dry shorts and shirt in the bag, but discovered I forgot to pack additional underwear… Great. So, I have the underwear I wore in and the underwear I had already changed into. Both are wet. So, commando its gonna be.

I could get into all the details, but there are so many. The last four days have been a whirlwind. This is how it is every year though. I never feel ready, I always forget something, or to do something, and twenty things come up at the last minute that I would otherwise absolutely never have to deal with, but I do, and get on with it.

I arrived at the Springer Mountain Trail head this afternoon at around 4:30PM, thanks to the help and support of my man Jason. Props to any man who will drive across state lines to help me hike.

Because I got here late in the day though, I decided to walk to the Springer Mountain shelter and park it over night, before actually hitting the SPOT tracker. I pitched my tent, ate some dinner and now I’m settling in for some sleep. Going to need it. Long day of hiking tomorrow.

Yay! The truck has a new windshield. Thank you Auto Glass Depot in Fort Myers! They came to me and gave me a totally fair price. All is right in my truck driving world once more. Pretty sure I’m due for an oil change. Going to check my records and probably get one in the morning.

Being that I have been delayed, it’s actually not turning out to be so terrible. Paid some bills today and did a final go over with the gear. Also picked up some boxes from the post office. Decided to do two bounce boxes after all. One primarily focusing on gear overflow and the other food resupply. Also, sending US Postal Service.

Last year I ran out of time and sent everything FedX. I wasn’t thinking. When I would get a box, but didn’t need the contents inside I had to pay again to mail forward. With the US Post Office, if I don’t open it, I can forward it on for free. Tricks of the trail.

So the ATM not accepting my checks for deposit was literally just an issue with there not being enough funds in the business account at the time I was trying to make my deposit. This morning though, there was no problem. According to the teller, this happens when the issuer of the checks makes a deposit and the funds don’t go in until the next business day. Being it was a weekend, the funds were not available until this morning.

On to the next issue… Getting a quote to fix my windshield.

In my traditional OCD fashion, I called like 20 places to get quotes. Finally settled on Auto Glass Depot. They are coming to me tomorrow. Got a pretty fair price $195 (plus $15 if he can’t use the old molding), but it’s scheduled up. One errand closer to lift off! Yay!

I was supposed to leave Sunday morning at 12AM, but my ride schedule changed at the last minute. With this in mind, I figured I would spend Sunday (today) doing some last minute errands and would leave at my leisure using my own vehicle. I had previously looked into renting a car for the ride up, but I missed my window for cheap rates, and was instead quoted quite an astronomical one. Pass.

To add to delays I walked out of the house this morning, got into my truck and the once small crack that has literally been in my window forever decided this morning it would move across my entire windshield. Great news! I don’t have comprehensive, so the window is not covered. Yeah. Being it’s Sunday, I can’t even call around for a quote until tomorrow.

On top of all that noise, I tried to deposit my last two paychecks at two different ATMs. Both declined to accept them. So, Monday I also have to go into the bank and talk to a teller, and find out why my paychecks are not going through.

I love how crap just crawls out of nowhere whenever I try to leave town.