Peace on the Peninsula

May 2: Just before getting off the AMTRAK in Gainesville, Georgia I met Robert and Madeline who were sitting a few seats behind me. They are hiking the AT over the next 5 months also. I was fortunate enough to catch a ride with them and Madeline’s Grandfather Tony to Amicola Falls State Park where the approach trail leads to Springer Mountain, the official start point of the AT, and we stopped for breakfast before starting our hikes. We hiked a good portion of the approach trail together, but separated before Springer Mountain. Thank you Tony and good luck and enjoy your hike together Madeline and Robert. I hiked the 8.6 mile approach trail to Springer Mountain, which is where mile zero for the AT northbound hikers begins. I hiked an additional 7.4 miles to Hawk Mountain Campsite where the highlights of my night were spilling my mashed potatoes and waking up to a couple arguing at 3:30 A.M.

May 3: I hiked 13.2 miles to Woody Gap. Where I camped and joined forces with Steve, Ryan and Tommy. Steve, a retired Ranger Regiment NCO, is hiking to support Ranger Regiment veterans. https://thetrek.co/author/steve-melians

Ryan started a non-profit and is hiking for cystic fibrosis. Incidently, Ryan took the picture of Madeline,  Robert, Tony and I at the start of the approach trail, but never talked until a few days later. Ryan’s social media for his efforts: adventureheroes.org. instagram/Facebook:   @adventureheros. @breathtakingjourney. @aroundthebenzadventures

Tommy is from Quebec and is adventurous.

4 May: The four of us hiked 10.8 miles to Neel Gap and split a cabin, did laundry, ate pizzas, resuupplied and had a good time avoiding the rain. I mailed home a new solar panel and battery that weren’t living up to expectations I had imagined. I bought a plug-in battery that should charge my phone 3 times. Another good day had because of meeting kind and exceptional people.

5 May: Tommy made bacon and eggs for everyone. Steve departed early to keep on his timeline and Tommy followed shortly after. Ryan and I stopped by the store for a final resupply and shortly after beginning we were joined by John. John, Ryan and I have similar hiking speeds and get along well, so we might be hiking together for quite sometime. We hiked together the 18.8 miles to Blue Mountain Shelter. It drizzled on and off all day and we even had a few minutes of light hail. We had steady rain before we arrived around 430 P.M. and it isn’t forecasted to stop until 10 P.M. We set are tents up in the rain and ate. The temperature is in the low 40s. My stove is having issues, so I’ll try to fix or replace it tomorrow at our next stop at the Top of Georgia Hostel.