A Day In Dahlonega, GA - Day 3

May 4, 2022

We spent the day in Dahlonega, GA. Woke up VERY SORE with heavy legs. I had to shuffle to the other room. At breakfast, we met up with a man that was Ken's age who had spent the last year preparing, backpacking trips, and practicing and who had also come off the trail for similar reasons. He was having issues with heat exhaustion and extreme cramping. 


I didn't remember a fun fact until our shuttle driver yesterday reminded me. An old Army Ranger saying goes, "Sassafrass will kick your ass!" It refers to Sassafrass Mountian, which is the assent that we didn't make yesterday before calling for a shuttle. On the other side, the Army Ranger School is at the bottom of Sassafrass Mountain. Now, it all makes sense. 😦

We have spent the day walking around Dahlonega, trying to work the soreness out of our muscles. Ken took his pack to the Wilderness store in Dahlonega to have the woman evaluate his gear. Mostly he was in good shape. We could have both shaved a few pounds of the pack. However, I think that our lack of progress came down to the complicated truth of our own conditioning. Personally, I need to face the fact that I'm not 20 years old anymore and do not want to risk serious injury.

I have discovered some truths about myself from the AT experience: 
1. I love the outdoors, nature, wildlife, plants, animals, trees, etc...
2. I love adventure and challenge, especially trying new things.
3. I love camping, sleeping in a tent, cooking outside, etc...
4. I am not in good enough physical condition to hike the trail.
5. I have a profound respect for anyone on the trail.
6. I am not the first to wash out in the first couple of days, and it won't be the last.
7. I enjoyed every second on the trail with Ken, pain and all!


I think that we are going to end up calling it. We are both facing our own level of disappointment but are satisfied with the decision. I am happy with what I was able to accomplish. This next year will be devoted to getting myself in better condition by being more active. I'm not sure that I will attempt to hike the trail like that again, but I will camp near and take day hikes and enjoy the beautiful mountains.

The scripture tells us much about the wilderness. It talks about the dangerous and wild places where people didn't go to spend time. It talks about the wilderness as a place where the people of Israel needed to pass through as God led them out of Egypt into the promised land. The wilderness is also the place where Jesus was tempted by the evil deceiver. Wilderness can be a strangely wonderful memorizing place where one can challenge oneself and learn more than you ever thought you wanted to know. The wilderness itself is not bad but beautiful, rich, and fulfilling. However, the wilderness can eat you up if you're not ready.


After just two days on the trail, I thank God for everything I experienced. (especially for Ken and his corny humor as he threatens to push me down the hill and yell "shortcut" 😜) We are also very thankful for all the prayers and support we have received from our friends and family, especially Kelly & Gail. Kelly is coming down tomorrow afternoon to pick us up and bring us home. Ken and I will leave on Friday from my house to take him home.

I have the month of May off for vacation and will fulfill my vacation doing other things than the Appalachian Trail. I hope that I continue to remain grounded in the process.

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This Week!

Weekend in Port Angeles (Turning Point)

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I have experienced a great weekend! I rode to Port Angeles from Seattle on Friday (7/28) because I was invited to stay with Doug and Gail Wheatley. The ride was beautiful across the Puget Sound on the ferry over to Bainbridge Island, up 305 and then 3 to 101. I can't get over the wonderful scenery along the way... The mountains, the water, ahhh... Gail was my neighbor in seminary my Junior year (we shared a wall!). She graduated in 2005, so it was wonderful to catch up with Gail after 12 years. Like other schools I have attended, the filial relationships that form in the setting at Sewanee, it was like picking up a familiar conversation. Doug and I went on an excursion on Saturday (7/29) up to Blue Mountain and to the Elwah River. He scared me to death on the road up to Blue Mountain - definitely pushed my boundary for "fear of the edge" - pay attention to that portion of the video. We had  Dungeness crab and steak  dinner and an awesome Sunset on Saturday eve
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Getting Psyched! - Day 0

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May 1, 2022  It’s our first night. After church, Kelly took me at Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge, where we (Ken aka “Breadcrumbs,” and I) will spend the night. We hit the trail in the am after an 8 am breakfast. We decided to take a ride to the start of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mt rather than do the approach trail. The lodge is nice. We both repacked our packs and did a double check of all our necessities.  I’m looking forward to the journey. I’m thankful that Ken and I are doing this together. We feel the prayers and support from everyone who knows about our trek.  I think about how we as humans are social creatures. We need each other. For me, part of what makes church a relevant part of life is the connection to other believers, helping care for one another. I pray that others feel the same way.  It’s getting late and the trail is going to be calling early. Happy Trails & Many Blessings! Ken+
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Walking in Memphis (for the Weekend)

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But do I really feel the way I feel? 🎶 (thank you Marc Cohn - now I have that song stuck in my head!) Well, for me, it was more like "drying out in Memphis." Friday 8/11 was one of the most wet rides I have had. 250 miles in the POURING rain. I was soaked! Luckly the dry bag and the rain gear works. I was only going to stay in Memphis for the evening and head out to Sewanee on Saturday and spend the bulk of the weekend there. However, I was wet and tired, so I decided to stay for a couple of days - mostly to rest and dry out. I didn't take many pictures on the ride because it was so nasty. I spent Saturday sleeping in and not riding. I walked to the local IHOP resturant for brunch and I just chilled... much needed. No, I didn't go to Graceland and I didn't see the ghost of Elvis. Let the poor man Rest In Peace. On Sunday, I did attend worship at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion. Big Place! Lots going on. They have just completed a capital cam
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Monday with the Mohegans

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Today instead of continuing west I went south, through Massachusetts into Connecticut to the Mohegan Tribe reservation in Uncasville. My Uncle Donald Tantaquidgeon lives in the senior housing complex. He is my maternal gradmother's sister's husband. So technically he is my Great Uncle by marriage, so unfortunately I am not Mohegan. I haven't seen him in many years and it was great to catch up with him. I also got to see his son, my cousin Lem.        My Uncle is among the elders of the Mohegan Tribe and refers to himself as "old school" with regard to tribal customs and cultures. He took me to the Tantaquidgeon homestead, which is now a museum that teaches about Native American and tribal culture. I saw recreations of the wigwam, fire circle, and canoe making. We also rode around the Mohegan Sun Resort Hotel and Casino. It is a beautiful facility. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with my Uncle Don and learned more about him and his cultural heritage. I hope to r
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Day Two!

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Woke up wet!! There was a big rain storm last night so I had to pack wet. The tent kept me nice and dry. The morning I had to rig for rain, but ended up being a great riding day. The trip to NY was great. When I got to Gilbert Lake, I was excited that there was no rain in the forecast, so I opened up and hung everything out to dry. I decided to sleep under the stars... I bit nippy to do that at 51 degrees.     I have often said that it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. What we do on the journey, the people we encounter, the way we act, the lives we touch, the lives that touch us, the roads we travel, all have a formational piece to them. Our Christian life is about the journey (and sometimes we have to pack wet - knowing the soggy mess will be with us at the next destination.) So much for mixing metaphors. I have the versus in Exodus rolling around in my head every time I put up and take down a tent. The Israelites were a nomadic people when they l
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To Albuquerque, NM via the Santa Fe Loop

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Yesterday's ride was awesome. I reached a milestone! - made the 1/2 way (mid-point) at Adrian, TX. For Route 66, this means I'm 1/2 done (or 1/2 started the mother road!). Still not too warm, but I can tell the landscape terrain and the climate is changing, as well as the elevation. Lots of buttes and hills as well as flat stretches. Things are getting a bit dryer! I stayed overnight at Santa Rosa, NM and witnessed my first western sunset in a long time! It was absolutely beautiful. Today I contemplated going straight into Albuquerque, NM, weaving in and out of the frontage ways of I-40, on the post 1937 Route 66, but decided to trek into the old historic city of Santa Fe, NM. For Route 66, this is "the OLD ROAD" portion  the Old Route 66 (1926-1937) up through Sante Fe, New Mexico (aka the Santa Fe Loop) . Much of the original road is dirt, and impassable... and much of it runs on what is now private property. Nonetheless, the Route is still there (replaced by
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Getting Ready for the AT

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We are less than a week out from Ken and I beginning our trek northbound on the Appalachian Trail. I think I have packed, repacked, shaken down, and prepped about 3 dozen times. We've been talking back and forth, getting excited about our journey, talking about food and gear and bears and trees (personal joke).  I'm not sure I have many concerns. I am thankful that Ken will be with me. He has always felt like the older brother that I never had. We plan to go slow, listen to our bodies, savor the experience, and enjoy the trip. We have both wanted to do this for a long time, but I'm not sure we ever expressed it to one another. It was just brought up in a conversation about a year ago, so we said, "let's do this!" "Going for it" is something that I have always done in life. If you read the 2017 Sabbatical entries in this blog, you will see that I love adventure. The journey then was epic, and this one, though shorter, will be just as epic. I hope you
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