Thursday 3/9/00 21 miles/1244 total. 74 trail days. Alabama CR 37, 2 miles north of FL State Line to Open Pond Campground. Shortly after Betty and Mae dropped me at the start point, I hiked through the fog to Bradley, AL. The only store in Bradley is run by Thomas Elliott. We sat and talked while I had a honey bun and milk. Thomas told me about two hikers, going from Oregon to West Palm Beach, FL., who passed his way in 1997, just before he was to have surgery to remove a brain tumor. They camped in the Elliott’s yard for three days and gave him a small statue of a “guardian angel” to help him through the crisis. Also, a guy biking to Washington, DC for the bi-centennial passed through in 1976.
Back on the by-ways of Alabama, I met Mr. Douglas in the front yard of his old country home; out for a morning chew. He said he was born in a log house that used to be just across the road. When he was drafted in WWII, he walked to Andalusia, 30 miles away, to report. Except for that 2 years and 9 months, he has spent his whole life right there.
About a half-mile down the road, I saw a lady with a shovel in her front yard. Betty Worrell told me of her miraculous medical recoveries and how much she now enjoyed being alive everyday. She was a wonderful, caring person trying to live a good life and help others. Just as I was taking her picture, the sun broke through the fog and illuminated her as the angel that she surely was.
Walking down a back road, I came around a curve and saw a mother coyote with two pups. The pups were about the size of “Levi”, our Schnauzer. The mother took off as soon as she saw me, however, the pups wanted to take a couple glances back before following their mom. After a hot afternoon of hiking, I walked into our campsite at Open Pond in Conecuh National Forest.
Betty: The State Park and National Forest Campgrounds have been beautiful, and today we are once again enjoying the beauty of Conecuh National Forest. Our campsite is right on the lake (pond), the park is filled with flowering trees; dogwood, cherry and some we could not identify. This afternoon we were sitting by the RV, reading and also enjoying the lake. A lady approached us and said, “Are you Hashers?” We said yes and knew she must be familiar enough with this international running group to recognize the foot decal on the back of the Honda. It turned out that Angelia Pugh’s son, Donald, belongs to a Hash group in Perry, GA. We had a great visit with Angelia, and then went to meet her husband, Wayne. We hope to ‘run’ into Donald, aka “Vegamatic”, at a future run. Later in the day, we met our neighbors on the other side, Arlene and Forrest.
Friday 3/10/00 23 miles/1267 total. 75 trail days. Open Pond Campground to about 10 miles south of Andalusia, AL on CR 17. Betty, Mae and I hiked directly from the RV, around Open Pond and toward Blue Lake. There are a series of trails that are interconnected within Conecuh National Forest. We took the “scenic route”. After a couple of hours, Betty and Mae hiked back to the campground. The Conecuh Trails are great; well maintained, through rolling pine forest with scattered hardwoods. Everyday more trees are in full blossom; the dogwood and cherry are most impressive right now.
By mid-afternoon, I exited Conecuh National Forest, moving north toward Andalusia. I was able to stay on clay roads much of the time, but eventually the hard surfaced roads were unavoidable. Betty and Mae picked me up on CR 17. As we were driving back to the campground, a wild Turkey crossed just in front of us.
Betty: Mae and I were out in the woods this morning, after our hike with Chuck, looking at some of the beautiful flowering plants. Mae is really enjoying the spring conditions, with trees and flowers beginning to bloom. The Wisteria, creeping Jasmine, Dogwood, flowering Cherry, Azaleas and Honeysuckle bushes are beautiful, and are prevalent in this area. On our way back to the campsite, we saw a restaurant, “The Country Kitchen”, and decided to have lunch. We were eating lunch and noticed the US Flag outside looked like it had been through a war. Mae asked the man sitting near, “Who’s in charge of the Flag?” He said, “Oh, I know it needs to be changed and I have a new one, I just haven’t put it up yet.” Later in the evening I drove back up there to get a DeLorme map and noticed right away the new flag. I said, “The Flag looks great!” and he said “I told you I’d change it.”
As we were leaving to pick Chuck up this afternoon, Gloy waved us down and said, “I just have to know what this sign on the back of your car means.” He was referring to the sign we now have that says “Support Vehicle for Key West to Canada Hike”. When we arrived back at the campsite in the evening, he asked if we had found Chuck, and invited us to come by the campfire after dinner. That evening we all were sitting in front of Gary and Debbie’s rig with Gloy and Theresa. Both families live a few miles south of here. It was fun talking with them about the local area, other campgrounds, etc. They were interested in our trip, and asked some tough questions, like, “Why are you doing this?” Gloy slipped out to get some marshmallows, but Gary declined saying that if he wanted something sweet, he would lick his fingers.
Saturday 3/11/00 22 miles/1289 total. 76 trail days. 10 miles south of Andalusia on CR 17 to 5 miles south of Rose Hill on CR 43. We moved the RV from Open Pond Campground in Conecuh National Forest to a Wal-Mart parking lot in Andalusia. This would only be temporary parking, for the day, and would give Betty and Mae a chance to locate a site suitable for the next two or three days. While in the Wal-Mart parking lot, we were drooling over some of the new motorhomes, at an RV show, in the corner of the parking area. A salesman, George, approached us thinking we might be interested in replacing our older rig with a new one. He quickly focused on Mae, trying to put her in a very nice Minnie Winnie. We escaped, but, just barely.
The day’s hike was along county back roads. I passed some beautiful trees and shrubs in yards and alongside the road. As I passed through downtown Andalusia I stopped at the Andalusia Flower and Gift Shop to ask about a local play that was advertised in front of their shop. Joan Stewart and her daughter, Amanda, told me a little about the town and were giving me directions through town as a thunderstorm brought a needed downpour to the area. I slipped on my rain parka and put a cover on my pack. It was a good feeling walking through the town square in a heavy rain after a long dry spell. Once north of town the rain eased, and by late afternoon the sun was shining.
When Betty and Mae snatched me off County Road 43, we moved the RV on north to Dry Creek Campground, four miles south of Luverne, AL. Christine and Percy Coggins own the little hunting camp. Christine told Mae that they moved “down here” in 1991. Knowing that Christine had a southern accent, Mae asked where they had moved down from, and was told: Luverne, which is about 4 miles north of here.
Sunday 3/12/00 11 miles/1300 total. 77 trail days. South of Rose Hill on CR 43 to South of Week, AL on CR 43. We visited the Brantley United Methodist Church in Brantley, Alabama. Pastor Jim Meadows, introduced us during the opening announcements. He said we were traveling from Key West to Canada; from the “percolator to the refrigerator”. Betty’s note: Chuck and I were married in a Methodist Church in Hinesville, GA. 34 years ago this August. I think they did a great job!
Chuck: In the afternoon, Mae and I hiked a few miles on County Road 43 with almost no vehicles passing. Betty picked Mae up in Rose Hill. Mr. Grimes, who owns the Rose Mart General Store, retired after 43 years in the Army, and has a son who is now a Sergeant Major. We swapped Army stories for so long that Betty and Mae drove off saying they would find me along CR 43 later.
Mae’s note: The temperature was about 34 degrees the last two nights, but it warmed up beautifully during the day. We have seen some beautiful charolais cattle and lots of horses in this area, both with sweet little off-spring. Pastures are lush due, in some places, to the use of huge irrigation systems – long pipes above ground and and moved across several acres on wheels. I am enjoying every minute. The rolling hills are easy hiking and scenery is really pretty. City Hall crosses my mind but occasionally.
Monday 3/13/00 25 miles/1325 total. 78 trail days. South of Weed, AL on CR 43 to 2 miles south of Hephzibah, AL at Goshen Rd on CR 21. After dropping me at the start point, Betty and Mae went to Troy to do laundry and take care of some other chores. The temperature had dropped to about 34 degrees last night and the morning was crisp, clear and cool; a good hiking day.
While in Troy, Betty and Mae contacted Jaine Treadwell at the “Troy Messenger”, the local daily newspaper. They asked her if the newspaper subscribers would be interested in knowing that Troy was our “crossroads”. We had passed through Troy moving west on the horseback trip to California five years ago. Jaine said she would like to talk with all of us and arranged to meet us in Henderson (south of Troy) at Rex Locklar’s “antique” general store. Jaine Treadwell is a bit of a celebrity and many local folks dropped by to say “hello”. She talked with us for about an hour, took a few pictures and we were all back on the road. We arranged to meet the next day in Troy at the exact point of the “crossing”: US 231 and CR 21. To make up the miles lost during the interview, I hiked until dark.
Betty’s note: Chuck was also featured in the March 2000 issue of “n” magazine “The magazine of Naples”. Mae brought it up when she came. A great article written by Marlene Smith-Graham.
Marlene is a feature writer for “n” and has also written a book “Headfirst into America” about the trip she, Craig, and their two children, Courtney and Collier, took through the States. She and Craig sold their house, quit their jobs, and took off on a neat journey through all of the states. They reaffirmed, as we have, that there are a lot of wonderful people in this country of ours.
Tuesday 3/14/00 17 miles/1342 total. 79 trail days. 2 miles south of Hephzibah, AL to #127 on CR 7 (Laura Lynn Jordan’s) driveway. We moved the RV to the Wal-Mart parking lot in Troy, AL. The 5 1/2 mile hike north to Troy was pleasant, the weather was cool, the traffic light and the miles painless. Meanwhile, Betty & Mae went to the office of the “Troy Messenger” to update the website. Jaine Treadwell and her son, Huck, who also works at the “Messenger”, made plans to meet Betty & Mae at the Conoco Station on the corner of CR 21 and US 231 at about the time I would hike up to that point. This is the crossing of our hiking trail and the trail we followed on the transcontinental horseback trip west five years ago. Huck got several pictures then he and Jaine were on their way. Mae, Betty and I decided to try the pizza counter in the Conoco store. The owners, Jimmy and Martha Norman, had noticed the photo session and asked us about the trip. Martha remembered seeing our wagon train passing by on the road in front of their store. She said she took pictures of it. Jimmy made our pizza, then he and Martha said it and our soft drinks were their treat. This gracious gesture made Troy, AL even more special to us. After lunch, Betty quickly sent me off on my hike so she and Mae could do the “things” they wanted to do.
Hiking north through an older section of Troy, I overtook Annie as we were climbing a small hill. Annie, a middle aged black lady, was laboring up the hill. I slowed to chat with her. She said her kids all had cars, but they were doing her a favor by allowing her the opportunity to exercise. I walked on the pavement next to the curb, Annie walked in the grass a couple of feet from the roadway. She advised me not to walk in the street, “out in the country, drivers respect walkers and give them room. In the city, everyone knows the streets belong to cars, so we’ve got to stay out of their way.” Good advice!!
Late in the afternoon, I passed the Needmore Convenience Store and stopped for a cold drink. Gayle Jordan was a fountain of information about the local area. A few minutes later, Laura Lynn came in and suggested some attractions that sounded very interesting. I really enjoyed our discussion. Before I left, a little girl about five years old asked me some questions about my hike. It was Erin, Laura Lynn’s daughter, a very cute, articulate and well behaved young lady. She was excited to learn that I would be hiking by her house. I told her I would wave to her if she would yell when I passed by.
An hour or so later, as I was clipping down the road, I heard a little voice and saw Erin waving to me. She and her brother, Jeffrey, were playing in their large front yard. I took their picture and waved to their parents just as Betty and Mae were flying by in the Honda. The brake lights went on as they went out of sight. They came back and we called it a day. A good day!
Mae’s Note: Betty and I visited the Pike (County) Pioneer Museum – a wonderful collection of items depicting the early settler’s way of life in this area. It was a self-guided tour inside and outside several buildings. On display were entire rooms of furniture for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchens, dental and doctors’ offices. There were spinning wheels showing the process of making fabric from the cotton ball stage to thread, and to the woven cloth with pretty, colorful patterns. Also on display were printing presses, blacksmith shop tools, carriages – including a hearse and “pinch toe” coffin. There were several out buildings of log construction, some housing old farm equipment and road building machines. Probably the most impressive collection was the general store, which had been moved to the museum location in its ENTIRETY. Massie Ree Warr, a lovely lady of 86 graceful years, and who has done volunteer work with the museum for more than 20 years, took Betty and me into the General Store and showed us around. All shelves were stocked with original items from shoes to medicine, and even a peanut parcher. This is a “must see” museum for anyone visiting the Troy, AL area.
I have been checking the classified sections in local newspapers along the way with the notion that out there somewhere is my next puppy. Betty and I went to a couple pet stores yesterday. While all puppies are adorable, none in the stores were meant to be mine. A young lady working in one of the stores told me about an “advertiser-type” magazine available at all gas stations, etc. It didn’t take long to find a copy and I think my pup is listed on page 180. Betty and I will take a drive up the road tonight to check on the matter after Chuck is through hiking for the day and we have relocated the RV. More on this subject later….
Wednesday 3/15/00 18 miles/1360 total. 80 trail days. #127 on CR 7 (Laura Lynn’s driveway) to 2 miles north of US 82. We got an early start in order to have time to move the RV forward and for Mae to check on a puppy at a lady’s home east of Montgomery.
About 8AM, a red pick-up truck passed me then pulled off at a wide spot. The driver leaned against his truck waiting for me. Pugh Davis, a fit looking man about 80 years old, smiled and said curiosity got the best of him. I told him about my trip and he repaid me with a bit of American history. After his grandfather (yes, grandfather) was killed in the Civil War, his grandmother took all the kids in an ox cart and came “west” to Alabama to homestead 40 acres. Pugh was the youngest of several children and never knew his father who was in his 50’s when Pugh was born and died when Pugh was three months old. Pugh said he was born in a log cabin that was “just up the road”.
About noon, I stopped at Earles’ Country Store for a cold drink. John Earles and Tim Hubbard, who lives “just up the road”, told me about Hank Williams who grew up a few miles away. Tim said that I had just hiked past a lane going to a cabin owned by Hank Williams, Jr.
After lunch, a nice looking white Chevy pick-up truck slowed beside me. Otis Manuel, a large muscular black man about 40 years old, asked if I would like a ride. I thanked him explaining that I wanted to walk every step to Canada. He said he understood and gave me directions that would take me the next several miles. I told him that less than a dozen people had offered me a ride during the past 1300 miles.
Betty and Mae overtook me on Bullock County Road #7 about 2 miles north of US 82 at the “Nut Farm”. We moved the RV to Wind Drift campground at Exit 22 of I-85. Just as soon as we were parked, Mae and Betty were off to look at a puppy. A couple hours later we had a new traveler with us: a six week old Boston Terrier. Mae named her, “Susannah” because she “came from Alabama”.
Thursday 3/16/00 28 miles/1388 total. 81 trail days. 2 miles north of US 82 on CR 7 to Tallapoosa River on SR 229 (about 2 miles north of I-85). On the drive to the starting point at the “Nut Farm”, a Wild Turkey hen crossed in front of us. As I was getting my gear on, residents of the “Nut Farm” were “escaping”. Gus and Marge Tompkins, owners of the pecan farm, each stopped to ask if we needed help. About 9:30 AM, I stopped at the Country Store in Fitzpatrick. The lady behind the counter, Sue Tompkins, invited me to sit down and talk while I ate my snack. She said the morning coffee crowd all knew a stranger was passing through, as there had been many sightings the day prior. Sue said she had seen a couple of women (Betty and Mae) give me a ride. She said Gus Tompkins was her cousin and that yesterday he told his mother, who lives alone, to keep the doors locked because a questionable character was passing through the area. His mother told him that she had already “locked up” because several neighbors had called to alert her.
It had rained last night and the air was fresh. Since there were few people to talk with (probably all hiding from “the vagrant”), I was making good time.
A wide, mowed area, alongside the little used county road, served as my lunch spot. While sitting there, barefoot, with boots and socks airing, a beat up old Pontiac, with no license plate, passed by slowly. Two black ladies were curious about my presence. Just a couple of minutes later they passed in the opposite direction. Then, two young black guys in a pick-up truck made the “double pass”. Finally, an older black man drove up and stopped in the middle of the road. After a strained exchange of greetings, he got right to the point. He wanted to know what I was doing in their little part of paradise. Then, I realized that the previous passers had been “sizing me up” and the elder man saw it as his responsibility to insure local security. I gave him a brief account of my hike and told him I would be moving on as soon as I finished my lunch.
In this time of terrible headlines and TV stories all across the country, I cannot fault the people in this community, nor the folks from Fitzpatrick to the “Nut Farm”, for their own form of “Neighborhood Watch”. However, it is disconcerting to be the subject of such attention.
The splendor of spring continues to unfold in all manner about us. It is great. Betty picked me up just before a thunderstorm passed through the area. Mae was back at the RV “dog-sitting” with her new “baby”.
Mae’s Note: My new little buddy, Susannah, is really a small miracle. She is as cute as a button, playful, and smart as a whip. She is learning very quickly how to train me – when to take her out, when to feed her and when not to leave her in a large cardboard box! She made her first trip to the Vet yesterday for her initial series of puppy shots and did very well. Today she took her first walk attached to a leash. She had fun chasing along behind her big cousin, Levi, and his mom, Betty. She has mastered the art of escape from the confines of a laundry basket and a small box, hence the big “Bounty” paper towel corral she occupies when we are away from the RV for a short time. Susannah and Levi get along well together, but Susannah thinks all food dishes are fair game.She weighs about 2 lbs. and has very pretty markings. I know she will be a hit in our neighborhood when we get back to Naples. Betty is a whiz with maps and figuring how to get to some very out-of-the-way places. I am grateful that we were together, otherwise, I may never have found my little Susannah. Weather here is beautiful now, after a couple rainy nights.
Friday 3/17/00 10 miles/1398 total. 82 trail days. Tallapoosa River on SR 229 to 2 miles north of Tallassee, AL. We took the morning off to visit the Tuskegee University National Historical Site. It is very interesting and well presented. Since our time was limited, we only went to the George Washington Carver Museum and Booker T. Washington’s home. Our guide, Christine, gave “in depth” explanations to our questions and lingered with us to discuss several related topics. We all were impressed with the site. As we departed Tuskegee, we drove by the airfield where the now famous “Tuskegee Airmen” trained. It is not an established site for visitors. The old hangar is abandoned and falling down. We were told that plans are underway to restore the site and create a visitor’s center. It was nearly 3 PM when I got on the trail. Then, as I hiked through Tallassee, I found a couple of stores to replenish some needed items. While standing at a drug store counter, still wearing my pack, orange vest and carrying a hiking stick, the clerk looked at the insoles, moleskin and blister packs I was buying. She asked if I was on a long hike and where I had started. She said her husband got a lot of blisters because his feet were wet so much in Vietnam. I told her she did not look nearly that old. She quickly informed me that she wasn’t, but that her husband was. Debra Shealey, an attractive black lady, asked more questions about the hike and I gave her our website address.
I found a replacement pocket knife and had some spare keys made at a hardware store.
Betty picked me up after only 10 miles for the day.
Saturday 3/18/00 19 miles/1417 total. 83 trial days. 2 miles north of Tallassee, AL to 6.5 miles south of Wind Creek State Park on SR63. Betty dropped me at the start point, then drove on ahead to find a suitable campsite. She located a site at Wind Creek State Park on Lake Martin.
The route for the past week or so has been a long “road walk”. We have tried to stay on remote county roads, which have little traffic, but will still get us to Talladega National Forest as directly as possible. The Pinhoti Trail travels a hundred miles northeast in Talladega N.F. and nearly to the Georgia state line. From there a few more “road walk” miles will get us to the Benton MacKaye Trail which goes northeast, then east to a point south of Chattanooga, Tennessee, then S.E. to the Appalachian Trail – finally! What this means is that we have a scant few miles of “road walking” left between here and Canada; guess I should be enjoying rather than loathing.
On the backroads, I have enjoyed visiting in the country stores. As I passed near Eclectic, AL (the town Mae located her Susannah puppy), Jimmy Glenn was “minding” a small store. After talking a few minutes, he gave me his phone numbers and address and said to call if I ever needed help, even if it was in Canada. He would like to join me, but his health would not permit the long hours of walking. I think he was looking for a good excuse to take off on his own adventure.
We parked the RV at a site overlooking a portion of Lake Martin, then Mae took us to dinner at Lake Hill Seafood restaurant. They lost money on their “all you can eat” seafood buffet; it was great!
Sunday 3/19/00 18 miles/1435 total. 84 trail days. 6/5 miles south of Wind Creek State Park on SR 63 to 5 miles north of Alexander City. Mae was up even earlier than usual, packed and ready to drive back to Naples. We hated to see her leave, but knew she would be back in a month or so.
Betty and I attended the Mt. Zion Baptist Church located just outside the State Park entrance. The 8:30 service had a small turnout. Afterward, I changed into hiking clothes and as Betty was driving me to the starting point, we noticed the 11AM service had a packed parking lot.
Betty had just dropped me along the road when the rain started. It continued, off and on all day. Most of the day I wore my rain parka and kept the pack cover in place. At times the rain ran down my legs and filled my boots. Wet socks balled up under soaked feet and kind of made me wish I had brought my rain pants.
A man, at the Conoco convenience store, informed me that the nearby community of Kowaliga had a store with a wooden Indian. He said it was the inspiration for the Hank Williams song. Apparently, the wooden Indian was moved to an adjacent restaurant. The restaurant burned and is now being rebuilt. Kowaliga is at the south end of the long bridge I crossed yesterday. My sister, Mae, a country music fan, will have a mild fit when she learns she was within a quartermile of the wooden chief.
Betty poured me in the Honda just before dark. As we drove back to the RV the rain was so intense we pulled to the side of the road for a few minutes. Triple “warnings” were out, but the tornados, severe thunderstorms, and floods missed us.
Monday 3/20/00 16 miles/1451 total. 85 trail days. 5 miles north of Alexander City on SR 63 to l mile north of SR 148 on CR 18. Twenty minutes after Betty dropped me at the day’s start point, a dog took exception to my passage. Even though most rural homes have dogs, nearly all of them are well behaved. Those that do challenge me usually are protecting their “territory” and allow me to walk the road without incident. If a place looks as if it might have a large dog, I try to move to the opposite side of the road. Many times a few soft spoken words will calm a barking dog to the point of a wagging tail. This was not the case today, with an angry Rotweiler about the size of a small bear. This guy came at full speed, with hair standing on end all along his spine. Deep loud barking was mixed with toothy growling as he charged across the road at me. I think I skipped the “soft spoken words” technique and went straight to plan “B”. Pointing my hiking stick low and in front of his face, I tried some loud and forceful commands that I thought he might have heard before. Most were four letter works and “here” , “come”, “scat”, etc. All the while, I was slowly backing on up the road. Finally, this bad actor stopped pressing me but remained behind me. It is interesting to note that all of the big mean dogs I have encountered have been protecting some trashy, neglected place that no intelligent thief would care about. I have never seen a big, bad, unruly canine come tearing out of a prim little cottage or a large manicured estate.
The county roads have more hills and are twisting and turning more as I get closer to Talladega National Forest. About mid-afternoon, as I crested a small knoll, the view to the west was breathtaking. The southern end of the Appalachian Mountains rose above the rolling terrain. Maybe ten miles away, even these low mountains looked majestic with a light blue haze as a crown. After walking over 1400 mostly flat miles, this little preview of the “main event” was refreshing.
In order to get to the southern Pinhoti trailhead as directly as possible, Betty and I had planned a route with many turns from one little road to another. Some of the roads apparently have no name nor number. According to plan, I left pieces of pale green surveyor’s tape (ribbon) tied to a sign or bush at each turn. At the appointed time Betty came driving up the dirt road I was following. Her arrival always puts a smile on my face.
Betty: During the day, I drove to Talladega, AL to the National Forest headquarters to look for detailed maps and information about the Pinhoti Trail. Talladega National Forest is a huge forest and the headquarters was a 60 mile drive from where we are staying. Christy welcomed me as I entered the visitor’s center and pulled out the maps Chuck would need. I asked some questions about the trail and she referred me to Forest Ranger, Jerry Sanderson, who has hiked the Pinhoti and was very familiar with the trail. He gave me lots of information to pass on to Chuck. I will drive back home tomorrow and will be gone for about four days. Chuck will hike north on the Pinhoti and I will meet him about 50 miles up the trial.
Thursday 3/23/00
Betty: I didn’t get an early start home on 3/21 and as I was rolling through Ocala at 11 PM, decided it was a good place to spend the night, and continue on the road in the AM. I had e-mail messages from a few folks telling me that my last posting had some problems, which I have been working on. I apologize for the inconvenience it has caused. I’m new to computers and sometimes I work 4-5 hours trying to work through a glitch. Anyway, hopefully I have the problem fixed for the time being. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to read the journal and also for making me aware when there is a problem.
Chuck called last evening (Wed). He is on the Pinhoti trail. On Tuesday, we got up early, got the RV ready for storage and Chuck had his large pack ready for the trail. Since I will not be there, he is carrying everything he needs to stay on the trail. He has a large pack, tent, clothing, raingear, water purifying kit, stove, cookware and food for the days I will be gone. I plan to pick him up on Saturday afternoon. He said the trail is awesome. He is hiking on a ridge and is making about 10 miles a day now. His journal entries will be entered when I meet back up with him, get them typed in, and then find a connection.