Georgia, How Do You Do!

Hello sports fans and welcome back to the blog.  We took the Amtrak from Baltimore to Gainesville, Georgia overnight and met Jill, who is also hiking.  Our shuttle arrived and we went to Springer Mountain where we tag the summit on a cool chilly morning and headed north! 2.8 miles later we stopped for the evening at Stover Mountain shelter.  A short day, But we are happy to be on the trail.  Norovirus is a big concern, So we’re staying out of shelters.  Many fun people In there were about 25 tents at the site.  Calm and quiet night In the tent – We are on our way!

Day two – overpacked food, so I ate lasagna For breakfast.  Black forest a.k.a. Oliver left early, he had done a previous through hike and is out for a month this year. Very nice guy.  Jordan Also camped next to us he’s from Iowa and he on day two with us.  At the cemetery, there was trail magic from the Georgia adventure group (GAG), We got soda, candy, coffee, and we signed their trailer!  We stopped at the base of sassafras Mountain and stealth camped With Jordan and Marie, Marie Lead us in stretching the next morning before heading up the mountain. Jordan and Marie took off quickly and left us in the dust. Oh the woes of being old!  We stopped off at Gooch gap shelter to use the Privy, Which was a Wreck due to Norovirus.  On the blue blaze back to the trail, we met up with Jill from the train and her friend Susie. They had found my hangtag as well as my spare wedding ring on the trail. I guess it fell off!  It was good to see them and they let us know there would be trail magic not too far ahead – Hotdogs and beer!  We Zipped along and came upon other hikers, waiting for the same Eric, who provided the trail magic. Fun evening, Most of us stayed there overnight.  Chilly Night, Condensation in the tent was all frost.

day 4. Hiking by 930, AssCaptain (AT’16) Had trail magic at Woody gap, We got cheeseburgers! Lots of ups and downs today beautiful views, and we camped On the ridge, just short of Jarrard gap.  Chilly and windy after a warm day.

Day five up and over blood Mountain yogied Some Dried mango From hikers- score!  Beautiful clear day from the top of blood mountain, We were hoping for a room at Neil gap so I took off down blood Mountain with Ilia, From Ohio, And Garrett.  Ilia is attempting to thruhike As his 2020 through was interrupted by Covid.  We flew down the mountain, Getting lost once (Everyone got lost at the same place!), And got to Neil gap fast. Sunny enough to need suntan lotion as well as a pizza. I saved a piece for Strags, who came down a bit later.  We hung out with lots of hikers in the sun, And a former hiker provided some magic in the parking lot too!  We were able to score a discounted room at blood Mountain cabins for the night, huzzah!  Strags Tried for an hour to get Papa John’s to deliver, They wouldn’t even give us the phone number to the local Papa John’s location and it was hilarious to listen to. We did our first sink laundry, and our socks are disgusting. All is perfect!

Day 6 – split a pizza for breakfast at Mountain crossings and Left late. We snagged a couple of tent spots After the ascent up Tesnatee Gap, It was windy and then no wind, Then rain. My tent was soaked from condensation. I will need to swap it out., And I’m looking at the XMid 2. We got to see the solar eclipse and take some great pictures from up on the ridge with Titanium, Kelley and Just Mike.