3/16/01
Well, the journey has begun. Today has been a long and emotional day. It was a mad scramble at home getting all of the last minute things together, saying goodbye to Paula, Ineke, neighbors and friends. I didn't think it would be so hard and any excitement or anticipation of the AT was overshadowed with sadness at leaving so many things behind. I'm at the hotel (Comfort Inn) in Helen, GA. The trip to Helen was uneventful but long. Tonight at dinner Chip and I were lamenting the menu choices and we commented that tuna was something I should probably avoid knowing that 5o% of my trail meals the next six months involves that special chicken of the sea. As fate would have it, the special of the night was, you guessed it, tuna.
We haven't hiked the first mile, yet our first experience with a "trail angel" occured! Our waiter, Brian, overheard our conversation about our "last supper" before the trail. He had just been up to Tray Mtn. on the AT to try and catch a friend coming thru the area who began the trail last Saturday heading north. Brian was very enthusiastic about the AT. I asked Brian if he would be interested in shuttling us back to Helen later this week for which he excitedly accepted. He gave us his phone number, checked his work schedule, and we'll be in touch with him later this week. A little info about trail angels - these are people who help thru-hikers on their journey, usually unsolicited. Their acts of kindness are called trail magic, and their support is critical to success on the trail.
As an aside, we had heard that the cuisine of Helen isn't anything to write home about, but the Nachoochee Grill was excellent. I recommend it to anyone passing through Helen, Ga....try the jerk Mahi Mahi. Tomorrow we head for Amicalola Falls to sign the register, weigh our packs officially, and get on the trail. Yea!! The weather forecast is gorgeous and I can't wait to get started.
