[at-l] Cheerio writes in from Fontana...

[ATnavi@aol.com]

Hey everyone,

I've been asked a lot of Q's so thought I'd answer at once.  Today is a rest business day at Fontana.  I've also got some specific replies in here...

John O:  Thanks for the foot advice.  I'm still looking for a small rubber ball, but the rest you told me I think is helping.  Amazing news about your
trip - envious.  Gaspe Peninsula will be an awesome place to start your SoBo hike and I really look forward to meeting along the way while I'm travelling
NoBo.

Jim & Ginny:  Thanks for reminding me about the hipbelt.  I now remember you saying something like that bfore, but it totally slipped my mind in the
moment.  I was so worried about it bouncing while I was jumping, I never thought about what would happen if I went in.  I'll not forget again! 
Thanks!
OrangeBug;  Hey!  I've been reading your register entries the last few days. Sorry I missed you.  I'll be thinking about your poncho / duct tape idea - it
just may work and how Hiker Chic!  Perhaps for the TD Parade?  I agree, B & D's cheeseburgers rock!

ok, now the Q's;
1 - how are my feet:  doing better.  I'm still in search of the perfect insole, but have some good solutions going and with JohnOs advice, they are
adjusting.
2 - Aren't I freezing @ nite?  Not usually.  I've got a 10 degree down bag and you adjust to the tempurature.  Only time was when I had that brush w/
hypothermia from hiking in snowstorm w/o enough layers.  It took a few hours to warm up, but when I did, inside the bag was comfy while outside was terrible.
3.  Wild Animals?
Other than other hikers, nothing bigger than a wild turkey.  Mostly see birds w/ occasional squirrel.  1 baby snake.
4.  Weapon?
Nope, not carrying a weapon.  No need for one and they are heavy.  Not to mention the legalities involved in permits for all the jurisdictions the AT
goes thru plus not allowed in the Parks.  Also my unfamiliarity with them. 
I'd likely hurt myself.
5.  Food.
Mom is busy mailing me food which I sometimes supplement with store bought stuff.  I need to make some modifications cuz I think food may be why I've
not had much energy the last weeks.  Breakfast chioces are like oatmeal,poptarts, nutrigrain bars, instant breakfast etc.  I'm discovering I don't
like to cook in am and can't eat much oatmeal and poptarts are heavy and start to stick in your throat so getting down to nutrigrain bars!  looking
for suggestions??!  Lunch I need to rethink lots.  has been mostly types of granola bars, peanut butter crackers, etc.  think need to go back to meat &
cheese like beginning of hike.  Dinners are usually something noodle or rice based.  I did lots of dehydrating and have mom's spagetti sauce, stroganoff
etc with noodles and small packets of parmesan cheese.  also variations of the lipton type noodles with dehyd veg & meats added, like dehyd salmon &
peas to a lpton noodle dish.  Dinners are good.  Breakfast & lunch are puzzles to work out.  I get drained in afternoon and am sure its a food
thing.
6.  Is it all I thought it would be?
To be short... YES and more.  Its hard to describe what its like.  Its more, its different, its hard, its easy, its challenging, its rewarding, it can tear you to pieces then in a single moment make you more than you ever thought you could be.  Its the strangest thing I've ever experienced and I cant think of a better way to spend the next 6 months.

Cheerio  GA-ME 2000
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