Apparently, I have had a hard time keeping up with everything. Let me assure you that Brett is doing very well. He just made it out of Great Smoky Mountain National Park (NC). He had his longest day yesterday, hiking 18 miles before stopping at the hostel at Standing Bear Farm. They had planned on taking a "zero day" today, but were feeling good and decided to get back on the trail.
I was able to send my first box to him last week. I sent him everything he requested, only to have about a quarter of it come back to me. Apparently those ten pounds were a little more than he had expected. It does make me worry about him getting enough to eat. He also sent back his first filled journal, which arrived today. I am looking forward to reading it and will try to share some of his writing with you when I get a chance after Spring Break.
The families will be meeting up with the guys this weekend. I am not sure that Brett will be able to make a week of zero days after being on the trail for a month. I am also not sure how he is going to handle sharing living quarters with five kids, even if those living quarters are a spacious four-bedroom cabin. Brett has been away from the loud noises of a family for a while, and I worry that it may be an adjustment.
Brett has had some cold nights and some wet days, but I think he has been able to stay warm enough. He gets cold at the end of the day, after he stops hiking. But after he changes into his dry clothes and gets into his sleeping bag, his little "apartment" keeps him cozy at night.
Brett said that Spring is creeping into the mountains. The trees are just starting to bud. Brett has had his fair share of rain, but really hasn't had to endure much in the way of snow. He has had some beautiful days as well, including some beautiful days when it counted--at the top of a mountain with panoramic views. I can't wait to see the photos. I promise to post some of those when I get them.
Brett's trail name has morphed again. He was named "Big B" by Ed. But other hikers have separately named him "The Dude" and Brett said he just can't seem to get away from it.
It's hard to type up the main points from our phone conversations. We have so little time to talk that we end up bouncing around from topic to topic trying to catch up on things at home, where Brett has been, where is heading, how he feels about the trail, what I need to gather up to send him, plans for meeting with him, what the weather has been like, etc. I look forward to sitting with him for a while hearing about all of the little things that get overlooked on the phone.
I am grateful for modern technology. It is so nice to be able to talk with him every few days. He has been able to make his phone battery last between charging sessions by keeping it off all day, turning it on in the evening just long enough to check for messages (assuming he has a signal), and maybe make a quick phone call home.
