AT 13 - 8th April (109.4)

 Meltdown. 

You might have read between the lines of AT12 that I was emotional. The AT strips you down to nothing. It pulls away the scaffolding you put up around your life at home. It takes away the crutches you use to survive. It rips off the plaster we tray and repair the cuts of life. It puts the knife in the open wounds and turns slowly. It’s like your mother gave birth to you in the Forrest and cut the cord and left you to survive. You’re a piece of dirt in a wilderness of dirt. It swallows you up. 

The 16 miles was too much, my physical heart told me so. I was exhausted and emotional drained. Then the emotion of grandkids kicked in and I just cried and cried. 

The 8 mile walk to Winding stairs gap  was easy on paper but it was wet wet wet. Tent was wet, everything was wet. Got there too early for the lift so really froze up. My YL friends from NC came and collected us. Stephen and Robin and the Moores collected 3 drowned rats from the trail and brought us to a brewery for food and drink. 

These guys were a saviour. 

Got a room in Sapphire Inn. A real bed!!! I was feeling so tired and sick I went to bed early. Slept well. Meeting Viv tomorrow. 

Getting to go to church for Easter.

Hallelujah, Christ has risen. 

AT 12 - 7th April

Keeping my heart rate down even on 16 miles

Bear pretending to be a tree 

 Last night we camped in a bear infested area. Food had been taken before. We had the food in the tree so should have been ok. Scout got up to pee and on his way back I growled really load. He didn’t scream but said “You must make a fun grandad”. He got back to sleep eventually. I hope I’m a fun grandad. I know I’m getting old and sometimes the kids rub over my wrinkles that makes me smile. I do growling when reading gruffilo. 

Finding the food in the morning is a challenge. I need a reflector to spot it rather than wandering the woods. 

We got up in a panic this morning as it started to rain. I tried to get the tent down dry but not totally. It was 6:30 before light. 

We cooked porridge at 7:30 and set off for a 8mile hike to next shelter. We hit 5478 feet!!! We had lunch and set out for another 8 miles to next shelter. Another 5213 feet to get over. It was beautiful but so tiring. I crossed the 100 mile mark. I arrived exhausted!!! Put up tent and had a nap. Ate and revived a bit. In bed early but who cares. 

8 miles tomorrow to get a ride to Franklin. 

Viv is coming over on Sunday to say hi. 

Also my new YoungLife friends in NC are collecting us from the trail to bring us to dinner. I’m having a shower first or we would have to have separate tables!!  

AT 11 - 6th April

 We are in North Carolina !!! Crossed the border earlier today. Sad to say goodbye to Georgia, it was an amazing ride. 

Longer day to get to second shelter. We are at Standing Indian shelter, 4757 feet, highest yet. We will be going over 5000 tomorrow. NC don’t have bear boxes or steel ropes to hand food. Did my first bear hang today. It looked easier on YouTube!! Lorie’s ankle got worse today. She pulled off trail but hopes to improve. We’re meeting in Franklin. We’re trying to get there on Saturday and this means I can go to church for Easter. I’m glad I’m in a tent the shelters are really noisy and seem to attract the “loud mouths”. 

Thought for the day

Habits. 

Good or bad we all have habits. We have annoying habits, we have life time habits. We have habits we want to give up and some we want to take up. I was wondering how long it takes to form a habit. I’m super envious of the bible in a year group. I started but the habit failed. I had a habit of biting my nails from being a kid but after coming back from the Camino I’ve given it up. That one broke with no effort, well 900km walking and blisters. I gave up smoking at 24 and that was a really hard habit to break. I needed the Lords help to quit that one. 

What habit do you want to quit ? 

Can you do it yourself or do you need help ? 

My first port of call is prayer. When you have the Lord helping then anything is possible. 

AT 10 - 5th April

 After a crazy night at the B&B cabin we were dropped into town ( at full speed) to resupply. Food and outdoor store. Swapped a few items and sent parcel to Matt with unwanted stuff. We thumbed a lift back to Dicks creek gap. 

It was only 5 miles to first shelter. 

I’m struggling with a cough and runny nose. Got some DayNaul. 

Saw my second snake today, not poisonous. 

I was first to the shelter and it was weird having no one round. Lots of people now. 

Thought for the day. 

Jason sent me a lovely txt yesterday and it encouraged me. 

“I woke up praying this for you Dad,

Salt and Light (Matt 5:13-16)

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 

You have Jesus with you on this walk! I'm praying for you on this adventure.

Go and be salt and light, don't be trampled on the trail or a torch with out batteries. 

Praying for you”

Eating my greens. 

AT 9 - 4th April

 Sorry I was too tired to blog yesterday. 

Misty start with wet tent. Mist cleared and you could see the clouds below. Tough walk up to Kelly Knob, straight up no switchbacks. What was worse was the long long way down to Dicks Creek Gap. 

We arranged a B&B cabin for the 4 of us. The guy collected us an hour late. He was a lunatic, I’ve never really been scared driving fast but he was crazy. We showed and went to the local brewery and had beers and dinner. I was on the couch but it was so uncomfortable I blew up mattress and slept on the kitchen floor. Didn’t sleep well. 

Water source with leaf spout. 

May Apple

AT 8 - 3rd April

Trail Dog

My Trail friends 

 First rain today. Packed up dry but rained at 10. Had to put on wet gear. We had 1000 feet down then got trail magic breakfast. Then up 1000, then down again and up 1000+. Arrived at Tray mountain, got tent up dry but it keeps raining. Cold but everything dry. Lots of people camping that we haven’t seen before. I think we are being overtaken but who cares, we’ll speed up later. 

There was one lady in the shelter that was the epitome of despair. I think she was wet and cold after the long climb up. At least she has a roof for the night. The shelter spaces are taken up quick. I prefer the tent. 

We’re getting into the routine of the trail. It’s a little boring if you can’t stand around talking but we are in the great outdoors. 

AT 7 - 2nd April

 Did 7.8 miles today to Blue mountain shelter. There’s 1000 feet down up, down up coming tomorrow so taking it easy. We’ve booked hostel in two days time so we can wash and clean cloths. I’m getting the hang of filtering water and doing cooking and cleaning up, bear hanging your food. You get into a routine. So far we have been blessed with super weather (apart from thunderstorm) but tomorrow is to rain so that will be a first but there’ll be lots more rain I’m sure. 

Saw my first snake today. Blank snake non poisonous but nasty bit. I chased it to get a photo. 

Camped early so very chilled afternoon. So far we’re meeting the same groups. I’m traveling with 4 and we’re going the same speed. It’s nice to get to know each a bit better. There’s a real camaraderie on the trail. We are all feeling the same pain and joy. 

Thought for the day. 

My trail name comes from the bitterness of the past years but also the sweetness of being out here. 

Bitterness is a dangerous thing. As I get older it’s very easy to become a grumpy old man. We observe thing and comment in a grumpy way. Bitterness is a destroyer of the soul. It strangles you and all you can think about is the situation that brought it about. 

There is only one solution to get past it. It’s to know the one who took all our bitterness, sin, anger, and experience it all as he suffer it for us. I’m so relieved that He took it all away and replaced it with peace and joy. Just walking it pure wilderness, I feel so happy to know Jesus and his love for me.