Starting the Trail
The ride down was long, but I appreciated the time I had with Dad. On Friday, we went to Amicalola Falls State Park visitor's center where I registered as a thru hiker and weighed our packs (Chefs was ~11Lbs and mine was nearly 45lbs with food and water!). Afterwards we drove to Springer Mountain just a mile into the AT. Dad walked with us to the starting point of the trail. There, I wrote in the trail journal. We stayed in a hotel that night so I could rest and have an early start on Saturday.
No Turning Back
Dad dropped us off at the trail around 9 am. I said good bye and I love you and I let Chef lead (pull) me on the trail as I had tears streaming down my face. After about a mile it seemed like just another hike. There was no turning back. I had to move forward and I prayed the whole time.
Georgia is beautiful. Everything is blooming or budding. And there are giant old trees here. I fell to my knees as I looked up at one. I brushed myself off and continued on (no one saw me). There are plenty of people, of all ages, on the trail. Even dogs too.
The first two nights were a bit restless, but I did find joy in the little things. Like seeing barred owls and hearing them at both shelters I stayed at. (I think they hang around for the mice) I am tired and I hurt, but I feel good. I am listening to my body and not pushing myself to the limits. I'm using this time to focus on Chef and myself and to find a good routine.
** sorry for any grammatical or formatting errors. I'm blogging via cell phone
Love you!! I'm so proud of you!
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ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing your journey!! You. are. amazing!! Love you bunches!!
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Jill!!! I'm so proud of you!!! I am very excited for you!
ReplyDeleteYour yoga pals are praying for you and staying abreast of your hikes . Be safe
ReplyDeleteGo get 'em Jill!!! This is awesome, you are awesome, Chef is awesome!!! Seeing beauty in everything is a blessing, and where better to be than in the thick of nature!
ReplyDeleteLove you lady! I can't wait to hear more!
And for some inspirational/nature-y quotes:
~ "Come into the mountains, dear friend,
Leave society and take no one with you,
But your true self (and Chef ;)),
Get close to nature,
Your everyday games will be insignificant,
Notice clouds spontaneously forming patterns,
And try to do that with your life." -- Susan Polis Schultz
~"To sit in solitude, to think in solitude with only the music of the stream and the cedar (or whatever the giant GA trees are) to break the flow of the silence, here lies the value of the wilderness." --John Muir
~"Now I see the secret of making the best persons. It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth." - Walt Whitman
~"Waste no pity on [her and her dog] for [they] enjoyed long stretches of pure delight such as only a hikers may know, and moments of pure delight that only a discoverer can experience." -- Samuel Eliot Morrison
<3 WeeSee
Wow. I can almost feel how you felt! Praying for good weather and a safe journey for you both
ReplyDeleteJillian, I can't say how proud I am of you having the courage to do this! I've HONESTLY thought about you (and prayed every time I do) at least 4 times a day since you started this literal step of faith with your adorable companion, Chef. I guess I'm a little jealous, as I would have loved to do this myself back in the day! Stay strong and safe as I know you will have to totally depend on Him to get you through. I memorized Isaiah 40:21-31 (verse 31 being the key verse here)when I hiked for a week on the AT back in 1978 and I still know it today! God is by your side every step of the way (along with Chef)!! Love you! Kathy Elam (your OTHER favorite 3rd grade teacher...I hope!)Praying for your mom and dad, too, cuz I know I'd be a wreck if it were Maddie!!!!
ReplyDeleteI've never looked up to someone the way I do you. You are so courageous, strong, beautiful, intelligent and inspirational. I too like the others think about you and pray for you and Chef. God is walking each step with you, your faith and belief in him says so. He will guard you and guide on the AT and life's trail too. Love you.
ReplyDeleteI've never looked up to someone the way I do you. You are so courageous, strong, beautiful, intelligent and inspirational. I too like the others think about you and pray for you and Chef. God is walking each step with you, your faith and belief in him says so. He will guard you and guide on the AT and life's trail too. Love you.
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