The Craziest Approach EVER!!

In retrospect, so many facets had to be included to the approach to hike the Appalachian Trail. Even my cat left me a partially eaten mouse in her food bowl…bless her..

There is the Packing preparedness: what to leave behind and what 1 luxury item to take.

The obvious Mental and Physical preparedness: well guys, I know the physical one will kick my ass no matter how much I prepped so…and I’ve been working on the mental one daily..

Now there were 2 incidents that were what I call fortunate and with prayer, a Universal touch if you will. One was 2 recent family medical issues resolved just in time for me to leave and the second one was skirting around a huge storm with TORNADOES while driving enroute through Mississippi, Alabama and into Georgia. We had just left staying in Peoria, MS, eaten lunch in Birmingham, AL and stayed just south of Amicalola Falls. The destruction was unbelievable.

It DOES take a village and also because a million little things have to line up just right to leave for a journey like a long distance thru-hike. People have to take care of your pets for 5-7 months while you’re gone, and I have 3 cats and a dog..thanks Karli!. And someone might have to pay a stray bill or two. And thanks Linda for storing my car in her shed and to the insurance lady that got me a good cheap rate on storing a vehicle. Also another friend, thanks Sandra, that offered to drive the almost 900 miles for me to begin the trail.

So all in all we arrived on a beautiful, warm, sunny day. I am registered to leave tomorrow March 27th, and if no torrential rainfall is seen, I’ll be out tearin it UP on that Appalachian Trail!