[at-l] Wanchor Report

[Bluetrail@aol.com (Bluetrail@aol.com)]

The Wanchor Report is a bit behind as your faithless correspondent has been on a business trip to Williamsburg, Virginia.  Four days of giving out
brochures at a meeting of forensic scientists.  Did manage a great evening meeting with Damon Stewart and his girlfriend.  Damon was one of the first FT
hikers ever to stay with us.  Also fit in some great Williamsburg sightseeing by taking a late flight home.  To top off my excuses, our home computer is visiting a techie for an overhaul.

Jon called Wednesday, April 25, from Jan Kern's house in Townsend(Gatlinburg) TN.  Jan is a real angel who helped Jon a lot when he was doing all the trails in the Smokies.  We met Jan several years ago when she was
still living in Gainesville, FL.  Jan was missing hiking, so on his day off Jon and Jan went hiking. Jan had picked Jon up at Clingman's dome, and he
continued his hike there again Friday morning.  Jon even got to talk with Damon which was great.  (Although I was the lucky one who got to see photos of Damon and Cindy's bicycle trip last summer from Washington state to
Norfolk, VA.)

Jon reported that the temperatures and winds in the Smokies were brisk but bearable.  He's averaging just under 18 miles/day, which is great considering
that includes town stops.

Jon called again today from Hot Springs.  He arrived about 10:30, got a shower (are you listening, Sloetoe?), did some shopping, got the mail, and was waiting on his laundry when he called.  He planned to hike out in the
late afternoon.  He asked me to stop sending the baggies of powdered laundry detergent because it makes the food in the box smell/taste like the detergent.  (Although it KILLS him to pay laundromat prices for detergent.)

He said he's feeling fine. As we talked on the phone today, Baltimore Jack rode by on a bicycle.  I also got an e-mail from Eb (Nimblewill Nomad) Eberhart
telling me that he (Eb) had run into Jon Sunday about noon.  Jon reported that Eb and company were finishing some hiker feed and Jon benefited by getting a hot dog, hamburger, and lots of nice fresh fruit.

On the homefront:  One thing I always advise those doing the trail support is to try to plan something nice for themselves--take a class they've always wanted to take, go on a short trip, visit someplace that their hiker wouldn't find particularly interesting, take up a hobby, etc.  The trip to Williamsburg is a great example.  Now I have some adventures and fun to report to Jon (not that it wouldn't have been great to see Williamsburg him).  Doing something fun for yourself avoids some of that "poor me" trap that's easy to sink into when you think you're stuck with the home duties, packing boxes, going to work, etc. while your hiker has all the fun.  I did fulfill all my vendor booth responsibilites (and recruited some vendors for our upcoming symposium), I had a great time, learned some things, explored someplace new to me---and, best of all, in this case the major costs were already paid!  Again, the hometeam needs some fun too!

Joan
bluetrail@aol.com