Dear tenants of an Unmoving Home:
I won’t include too many sentiments by hopefully you will understand that all is beautiful and lovely here. I am at the Blueberry Patch right now—a hospitable setting pulsing with hiker vibes. There are 13 of us in a Polish-sized room. I must congratulate you on wonderful food preparation. My meals evoke many jealous stare and drooling palettes. Crucial advice: do not include more than 5 days worth of food in any mail drop. I have adopted the approach of small but frequent resupply. The choice and portions of breakfast and dinner have been very appropriate but always leave lunch purchases up to me for the sake of fresh bread. But do keep up the support. I always appreciate love from afar. Remember, variety is the spice of life! I hope you appreciate all of my correspondence. I am sorry it is so brief but I have been surprisingly rushed to resupply.
Currently I am restlessly awaiting my old boots by Express Mail at the Blueberry Patch Hiker Hostel in Hiawassee, GA. I have 13 miles to cover today so I think I will be hiking into the evening. At least I can enjoy some solitude now to write a letter.
So far, my experiences have been as wild and radical as can be expected from a vagrant, rambling lifestyle. I’ve met many neat people on the trail and in town as well…courteous people willing to shuttle hikers around all day. I still feel unsatisfied after multiple trips to the buffet and a pint of ice cream!
In the morning, I use my alcohol stove, a coveted piece of gear to cook a wonderful breakfast and hot chocolate before packing away all my camping gear. Though I wear long underwear, pants, and a jacket to bed, after hiking I am soon warm enough for just shorts and a polypropylene shirt. Within the course of the day I walk between 9 and 14 miles at least here in Georgia. I stop to eat a bagel with cheese for lunch or snacks with other hikers. I try to reach the shelter before 4:30pm. Usually shelters are full by this time with about an 8-person occupancy. After hiking all day in sweaty clothing it is crucial I change into dryer layers before settling in. I cook dinner around 5pm and am asleep by 8:30pm, ready to see more vistas the next day.
The one thing I am unsatisfied with is the weight of my pack-between 35 and 40 pounds, which is technically at the upper end of a good carrying capacity, about a quarter of body weight. There are men here 50-100 pounds heavier than me carrying lighter packs. I intend to change some camping inventory in Franklin and buy a lighter jacket, lighter tent stakes, a camelback to replace my Nalgenes, and lighter shoes.
In terms of food, I sincerely love all the creative mail drops and lovely labels from Eric. In general, I try not to carry more than four days of food, but I’ll need 5 days after Fontana Dam to get through the Smokies.
I hope everything is calm and cozy at home.
Peace, Michael/Ishmael
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