Going back to yesterday (Day -1), I drove to my friend’s home in Peachtree City, GA. Ray and his wife were gracious enough to let me stay over until today and then shuttle me to Northsprings Station on the MARTA in Atlanta. After meeting Julia at the Atlanta airport, she and I had planned to take the Red Line to the Northsprings Station. But because all good plans need updates, the Red Line was down for rail replacement, thus Ray moved Julia and me instead. Ray became our first trail angel. Once at the Northsprings Station, we took another shuttle, for about an hour, to the Amicalola State Park Lodge. We checked in at the visitor center, had an AT hiker orientation, registered, got our backpack tags (I’m number 457), and weighed our bags. I am bummed because my pack weighs 33.5 pounds and not my estimated 30. I know it will reduce as I eat and use up some hand warmers (for sleeping bag at night when very cold). Plus, it is actually much warmer here than anticipated and I am carrying two layers of clothes. It is going to cool down in about three days, so I will be wearing some of the weight. Right after we took the traditional picture at the Visitor Center Arch, we encountered our second trail angel named Steve. He is from Indiana and he handed each of us $10 for supplies along the trail. What kindness!! We have also met at least a half dozen other hikers starting tomorrow. With my number of 457, the hikers that have started so far this year are at least 100 more than the same time last year. We met up with Julia’s cousin, Susan, for dinner. She is planning to hike most of the trail with Julia. We start tomorrow!!
Top photo is from the Visitor Center Archway. A couple photos of us at the station moving our bags from Ray’s car to the shuttle driver’s car. Next photo is another at the Visitor Center Archway. Next is my loaded pack with my pink AT tag. Then Julia and I outside the lodge. The last photo is the cider I had at dinner. Tomorrow’s menu: freeze dried food and protein bars.