AT 27 - 22nd April (257)

 Rained during the night. There was meant to be breakfast but nothing appeared. Ate my own dried oats. Had coffee and headed out. Misty and wet but some was from leaves of trees. 

You know when you are walking in wet woods with friends, you wait for them to get under a small tree and you shake it, and they get soaked. Well I did that to myself today, I got such a laughter out of it, pranked myself, if that’s possible. Sun same out most of the day but near Max Patch it hailed and got really cold. It’s a high peak with no trees on it so you can see all around. Headed down to shelter and Iron Mike lit a fire. I pushed over a dead tree to get wood. It was so nice to chat around a fire. Went to bed at hikers midnight (9pm). 

Hiking in the rain, what could go wrong ?  You get wet (YES but partly my fault), your spare clothes get wet(NO) your food is eaten by bears (NO) you go hypothermic (NO) and can’t warm up (NO), you die(NO). Success. 

Thought for the day. 

I woke last night and wrote this. 

Happiness 

Happiness doesn’t come from a bottle, mushrooms, the perfect joint, the needle. True happiness comes from knowing Jesus and your sins forgiven. We try everything else but the reality is there is no answers to the pains of life but Jesus. People maybe have rejected Jesus because of having been hurt by those you should have pointed the way. Or thinking they know best. Or maybe never hearing the good news of sins forgiven. I’ve got to this point in my life not needing the things above to know peace and happiness and deep contentment. The chains that bind us can truly be broken by the power of Jesus. He is the Way the Truth and the Life. He is the answer you are looking for. 

The joy of the Lord can carry you through the death of love one, the loss of a job, the pain of sickness, the helpless of despair and anything else life throws at you. The joy of the Lord is much deeper than happiness. 

AT 25 - 20th April (231.1)

 PAIN AND JUMPED

A twinge turns into a pain and very soon it could be an injury. It’s hard to know which pains to ignore and which to take note of. 

My Superior extensor retinaculum had a twinge and pain today. Eased off a bit so we’ll see how it goes. 

I was walking along thinking of how I would defend myself if a bear appeared, the next thing a branch breaks just behind me. I was afraid to look but when I did, nothing. My pack had caught on a branch and snapped it.  I seriously jumped out of my skip. I was jumpy all day after that. 

It was a beautiful day hiking. I’m camped on a really dodgy site. Top of a steep drop and not very level. If you don’t hear anything tomorrow then worry I’ve gone over the edge. 

AT 26 - 21st April (241.5)

My real bed for the night. 

Bears must be bad here!!!!

 Mostly down from 5000 to 1438, hard on knees. Got to Standing Bear Farm. I can only describe it as a Hippy style stopping point. I’m in a private modern wooden cabin. Nice concrete floor which keeps the heat down. Very hot day today. 

Rain expected tomorrow. Hiking in the rain, what could go wrong ?  You get wet, your spare clothes get wet, your food is eaten by bears, you go hypothermic and can’t warm up, you die. I think I want to test the rain gear and see what happens. It’s meant to clear 5pm and I’m heading to a shelter anyway. 

PS. I forgot to say that I left the Smokies Mountains today. Left my second half of permit in box that never seems to be emptied. 

AT 24 - 19th April (218.2)

 Best day yet. Had serve yourself breakfast, and I sure did. 600+ calories I’m sure. Went to get new glasses, one pair lost, one  pair broken, where’s Gill when I need her. I got the beautiful Baptists bus up to the trail. GAP was at the bus also, we’ve been crossing paths for quite a while. GAP= “God abundantly provides, God always protects, God answers prayers”.  There was a long climb back up-to 6000 but the breakfast worked wonders, didn’t feel it at all. There was some knife edge walking which was spectacular. It’s the best day yet. We are in pine trees so the sun wasn’t too hot. I’ve stoped coughing and my nose is clear, at last. I can smell the pine, not like the Tesco loo fresheners or even the Christmas tree, they heat in the sun and smells so good. 

Slug, Mama and Rock-n-Roll are in the shelter and a few more. 

I hiked in 2 bottles of wine. Well blackberry wine and peach cider. I decanted to plastic bottles!!! I shared, I promise. 

End of a great day. Feel at peace and relaxing into this crazy journey. 

These were the cold and wet girls. 

Standing over the cliff. 

AT 22 - 17th April (202.8)

 Major day today. Passed the 200 mile mark. If you’re an optimist it 1/10th complete, if a pessimist it 1/11th. Also we climbed the highest point on the AT, 6612 feet. It wasn’t too bad because it wasn’t one of those straight ups. I’m hooked on the shelters, roof and tonight I lit a fire. 5 miles tomorrow to get to the road and then a lift to Gatlinburg. I think I’ll stay the night in a real bed. 

PS. Last night two ladies came in late and were exhausted and one starting hypothermia after getting wet in the rain. I did what I could. I boiled water for them to get dinner. I wrapped one in my sleeping quilt. Eventually they got changed and into bed and warmed up. I can see how quick things can change out here. 

Thought for the day. 

Frailty of life. 

I was thinking as I walk down the steep slopes that one slip and that could be the end of my AT adventure. 

One bad decision speeding home could be the last decision you make. 

Cutting an avocado with a knife can put you in A&E. 

One slip on the stairs could be the last. 

I’m think I’m sounding like Ecclesiastes. 

One brain bleed and 5 days later, the end. 

The good news is our overall lives are in hands of a mighty God. 

Leave the details to Him and listen to the prompting of the Holy Sprit to slow down!!!!  

AT 23 - 18th April (207.7)

Don’t panic if you are tracking the GPS, it’s playing up. 

You can also get me on WhatsApp. 

Thanks for the comments, if you put you name at the end I’ll know who it is from. 

Got up early at 6am and left at 6:45 to get to Newfound Gap for 10am. The Baptist church runs a free shuttle down to Gatlinburg. Got there at 9am (only 5 miles) since it was downhill. Got the shuttle and lovely driver who also lost his wife of 45 years to Alzheimer’s last year. Spent a relaxing day washing me (in river and then a hot shower) and my cloths. Even got a hair and beard cut. I was thumbing a lift and the guy happened to be a barber. He was hispanic and took me to a ladies cloths shop and he seemed to have a corner where he cut every bit of hair. I feel human again. Went for lovely meal in The Peddler Steakhouse. Trying to keep the calories up. Resupply of food for the next 3 days. 

Someone on the trail told me that if you ask in NOC for a bed in bearskin lodge you get discount. There is only two room allocated to thru hikers. I got one!!! It’s all about word of mouth on the AT. 

Very touristy 

American topping to not a bad pint 

Irish pub

I lit a fire last night 

5th swim

AT 21 - 16th April (189.8)

 I’m so glad I was in the shelter last night. 3am it rained and rained and rained. It stopped by sun up but everyone’s tents were soaked. I started with wet gear but got too hot and it wasn’t raining. I stripped down and first 6 miles was easy enough. But then it got tough for the last 6 miles. 5560 feet peak to get over and then up and down a lot. I just got to the shelter and it lashed rain again. I was so glad I made it before that. I’m converted to shelter living, even with the snoring. I have to sneak out twice in the night. I can’t regulate my water intake which leads to outlet. 

Thought for the day. 

The bible teaches that “there is no God” 

It seems weird that God put this in his word. Particularly he knows that he is God. 

But you need to see who says it. 

“The fool says in his heart, there is no God”.

That explains it, there is a God but the fool doesn’t admit it. 

Every page of the bible explains who God is and that he is love