Real post from a real computer...

Hellllooooo! 

I finally made it to a real computer to update my blog.  Only took two weeks...

A lot has happened since I last posted from the Blueberry Patch.  We stayed in Hiawassee for about a day and a half, hoping that a day of rest would fix Stew's bad knee.  Well, as soon as we got back on the Trail it was obvious he was still in pain.  We were able to keep the miles we needed for the day, but limping down the trail is no way to hike the AT.  About two days out of Hiawassee Stew and I decided that it would be best for him to get off the Trail, take time to recover at home, and for me to continue on without him for as long as he needed.  It was not an easy decision, and I can tell you it has not really sunken in yet, but I think it was the right thing to do. 

Now, as for the Trail:

Georgia was HARD!  If you saw a peak in the distance, you knew the Trail would take you to the top of that peak.  It was a LOT of ups and downs.  North Carolina seems to differ so far (albeit we've only been in NC for three days) in that a lot of the trail just follows along the side of the mountains, instead of taking you straight to the top. 

We haven't seen any bears yet, nor have we been visited in the night and had our food taken again!  The day after our food got stolen near Neels Gap a mother and daughter had their bag stolen out of the tree... and a few days after that (around the same area) three hikers had their bags stolen too, but were able to chase down the bear and get some of their stuff back. ARGH!  Stew and I have obviously been very diligent about our bear bags, and other hikers have commented on how well we hang them.  :)  Once "bitten", twice shy I guess...

Yesterday, after climbing most of Albert Mountain, we were treated to some Trail magic in the form of an older hippie making us fresh blackberry pancakes, the Grateful Dead drifting out of his car stereo and mixing with the campfire smoke.  It was wonderful.  I think I ate about ten, spreading Parkay all over them with my fingers.  Mmmm....   We got a shuttle ride from the top of that mountain with the intent of getting into Franklin so that Stew's mom could meet us there and take him back to Arkansas.  Our shuttle driver did not anticipate taking 5 people down the mountain, so only brought his little two-door Cherokee Sport.  We packed everyone in there regardless... Stew sitting on one of our friend's lap in the front seat, me in the shuttle-driver's granddaughter's CHILD CAR SEAT (!!!) and then two other fully-grown men squeezed in beside me!  When we got out it was like clowns unloading from a circus car!  Many people took pictures of us.  A ride to remember, that's for sure.  The driver was a story-teller and drawled on about recent Sasquatch sightings in the area, something I was keen to listen to.  I'll keep my eyes open while I'm out there.... ;)

My 30 minutes is nearly up on the computer, so I have to go and finish the laundry and packing so that I can get back on the trail tomorrow morning.  I estimate that I'm a week out of the Smokies... which is very exciting.  Everyone keeps telling me to anticipate snow up there.  I wouldn't mind it... it's better than the torrential rain that we walked three miles through a few days ago.

I promise to keep posting as often as possible, though I won't have access to the iPhone.  Thanks for all the well-wishing we've received from friends and family!  It's been an interesting two weeks and we've learned a lot.