week of firsts

First State complete, first 100 miles, first rainy day.  

Ready to carve a notch in my stick for completing the first State.  Good bye Georgia: 

Hit the hundred mile mark.  Feels like an acomplishment. 4.5% of the way.

 Averaging 10 miles per day now.  Longest day so far was 13 miles. It is wearing on my feet. 

This week had its ups and downs.  (Hiker joke) This is one of the ups:

Here is one of the downs:

little spelling error at the Muskrat shelter.  Although great times were had at Muskrat shelter singing "Muskrat Love" which was apparently a huge hit in the 70's.  They 70's must have been a weird time.

I do think I need to make an AT play list.  If anyone has suggestions for songs for each state or other backpacking on some how on theme songs, put them in the comments.

One night the moon was so bright. I got up and started packing at 2 AM.  But then realized it was still night and went back to sleep.

Also got baptized (first rain). Packed up a wet tent and hiked 8 miles to a shuttle then went to the Micro Hotel in Franklin.  Saturday, was Sub Zero's 30th birthday.  We asked her to share 29 life memories as we hiked the trail.  It was like a live podcast.  

We also met one of the owners of the 76 Outfitters, who promised a free beer on him when we went it.  Which we did and it was awesome.   

After a little outfitter shopping we went down to the lazy hike brewing company.  Great beer and the foot truck had Gyros.  Which was awesome because I had been craving one and didn't expect that in the mountains!  Sorry no good pictures I ate it to fast.

Taking a Zero day this Easter Sunday in Franklin.  Sunday evening at the the Grove Hostel.  Heading to Church at Saint Francis of Assis.  The later need to get a few groceries, do laundry and air out the wet tent if we can find a spot.  It is raining on and off all day.

Dried out my tent. Packed a few things to mail home.  Then repacked my all my stuff.  With food and water I weigh in at 38lbs.  

The folks that run the Hostel were like ok that is ok, but still heavy.  So I took my food and first aid stuff out and removed the water and I weighed in at 23.5lbs.  Which is higher end of normal.  

So "Learning Curve" did shake down of my food and first aid.  It was hard do it. It felt like and intervention., like I was on hoarders.  Anyway they were like you have 5-6 days of food and you only need 3.  Also they said to get rid my apple and carrots.  The suggestion was eat protein, fruit and vegetables in town and just run on carbs on the trail.  Also dropped about half my med kit.  The argument is you are only two days from town so only bring what you need for 2 days.  Not a bottle of ibuprofen, 6 pills, then take that concept to the whole kit.

After the food and 1st aid kit shake down I am down to 34.5lbs.  

It was hard to let go of some of it.  Maybe if can release a few things I could be Sub 30 lbs, but that is for another week.