I am not much of a blogger.
Any who, I would like to start the trail in March from Georgia, if anyone is doing the same please contact me so we can be penpal buddies and meet up because it looks like I am going alone and that both scares me and excites me.
This poem - The Journey, by Mary Oliver - seemed to be about the Trail, about me, about all of us, at that moment, so I took the book of poems with me from the Blueberry Patch Hostel (which was encouraged), copied the poem in my journal, and then later left the book in a shelter. Much like my hat, I later ran in to a hiker that had picked up the same Mary Oliver book and carried it along. What a fascinating little ecosystem the Trail creates.
Wayfinding:
White Blazes lead the way and mark the Appalachian Trail.
Blue Blazes indicate side trails (many leading to a shelter or water).
I heard people joke about “Aqua Blazes” - but more about that in a bit.
K-Bear (me), Yetti, Yak, John
Cast of Characters: Yak & Yetti. One of the few thru-hiking couples I encountered, Yak & Yetti actually got engaged while on the trail (and to jump way ahead to another story, I ended up going to their wedding years later… but again, more on that later). Two creative, joyful spirits, they were made for each other and made for the trail. Notice the knit hat Yak is wearing - Yetti knitted it while on the trail.
