Greetings From Hiawasse Georgia

Well, 7 days hiking and we are enjoying ourselves immensly. The days consist of walking, uphill, downhill, and rarely, very rarely level. We are averaging about 45 minutes per mile overall. On gradual slopes we do about 30 minute miles.

The only disagreements we are having concern water. As soon as Jen takes two or three sips from her water, she starts worrying about where we are going to get water again. I tell her than any water left in the bag or in my bottles when we get to the next source is wasted energy, but she doesn't buy that. So we fill up a lot more than we probably need to.

After the first two days the weather has been tremendous. The first night it rained all night long. We actually stopped hiking about 3pm so we could set up before it rained. Thanks Bill R. for the tarp. We used it the very first night or we would have gone hungry.

The second night the shelter we aimed for was full of boy scouts so we had to press on. About dark we finally found a flat spot, but it was very, very, cold and windy. We used the tarp a second straight night. This time to block the wind so we could eat.

Since then, the weather has been perfect. We arrived here last night after a 15 mile hike, our first for that distance. Up to then we have done 5, 12, 9, 5, 9,11. We are feeling good except for some minor aches and pains. Last night i hitchhiked for the first time since I was in college.

Today is our first zero day, meaning "no hiking." We will stay here another night to let the bones rest, buy groceries, etc. The first day out from here we will cross our first state line and be in North Carolina.

Thanks for looking in, we will keep you posted. I would post a picture but I can't get this computer to read my camera. If you email us, use rodger.russell@gmail.com. I can't seem to check the other one.

ps. Giblet is a rubber chicken making her way to maine with us as a stand in for Tina who wishes she was going. Pictures later.