Relocation

April 5, 2002- Friday- Day 161
1:45pm- I am going to move my camp today, its just to far to walk to the store. Like that should bother me, huh! It is different when I have to carry stuff in my hands and the trip is always the same. I have to figure 3 trips to the store is something like 10 miles or more. I like to get what I need and not half to struggle to get back and enjoy it. I saw a patch of woods down by Ingles, but I don't know whats in there yet. Have to go explore it first.
This is a pretty cool way to live though, I have to agree with that kind of logic. I don't know when it will become not so thrilling, but then it will be time to re-adapt. Then I can go back to my old mantra-"Taken from here to where it came from and taken to a place and used in such a manner that it can only remain as a representation of what it was where it came from"
I like being on the lake but its no good for a foot soldier.

Phone Home!

April 4, 2002- Thursday- Day 160
3:15pm- Me and Skil's just got back from walking down to Ingles Grocery. Earlier Junior came by and we sat and talked for a while. It was nice just hanging out and having a couple beers on the lake. When I walked to Ingles I called home and the phone number belongs to someone else now. I guess Laura changed the number, so I couldn't call. Well, such is life! Across the street from where I am camped is the local fly fishing hole, I guess. I went over early this morning and watched them try and catch these little stocked rainbow trout. The ones I seen caught were on the average 7" long. We have bream in S. Florida that would eat these trophys of the north Georgia woods. I am going to walk around the lake shore and do a little exploring with my partner in a bit. Maybe we'll find some atifacts or something left over from the Civil War.

Junior Ridings, Is That You!

April 3, 2002- Wednesday- Day 157

8:00am- Me and Skil's found a old road up on a mountain that was somewhat flat, so we pitched camp for the night. We don't have much of a view here, I'm kind of looking down on a store roof. I just feel like I am heading in the wrong direction going this way. I am going down to the store and call Hank and buy a map.

8:30am- I called Hank and he is coming to pick us up, Good ole' Hanky! While I was down in the store I saw a guy who was staring at me and I stared back, because he was sure familiar. I just couldn't place him, and anyway I must have been mistaken. He was probably a pervert out trolling.

It will be good to see Hank, though!

4:00pm- Hank showed up and we went to Elijay, Hank bought lunch, then we went to Blairsville to the Home Depot, to get some stuff for the house Hanks building. We went to his house and I got to see Cynthia and the kids, damn, they have grown. A really great family and really good friends. Junior pulled up and I couldn't believe what I was seeing, he was the same guy from the store this morning. We had a good laugh over that. He thought he knew me and I thought I knew him. Neither one of us would ask "who are you"? I have known this guy so long, I have no idea why I didn't recognize him. Hank was building a huge house across the street from his other house. Now, that makes about 5 houses he owns. That one in the Redlands in Fl. is probably worth over a million by itself. This one he said was around $350,000 and he got all this with a hawk and trowel. Poor guy can't read or nothing, so he just accumulated all his wealth by hard work, and saving his money. Good for Hank!

He ask me to hang around a few days and I agreed, so he took me to 'Lake Blue Ridge' and I set up camp there. It is a great big old lake and the temps. are cool enough, I shouldn't have to much company. It would take a hard-core individual to go swimming this time of year. The walk to the store is a little uncomfortable, over a mile down the highway. I feel that I'll be alright now, I am among friends.

Blue Ridge Exit!

April 2, 2002- Tuesday- Day 158

8:30am- I almost started to walk back to Hank's, but whats the use? I don't even know if I was at the right house, but I didn't see any signs of life down the road. We just went back to Blue Ridge to contemplate the next historical move. I'll give him another call on my way out of town. Me and Skil's just hung out most of the day on Ada Road and 515 in the woods out of the sun. I'll leave when its gets a little cooler. This sudden change in the weather, sucks! I was just getting to enjoy freezing my ass off all the time. Suppose to be more rain tomorrow, that is always great news. I see a sign that says Jasper is the next town. I better think about getting a map before I leave here. I want to try and get back on US64, if at all possible. Doesn't seem like a town that is all that interesting, seems kinda boring. I better hit the road!

April Fools!

April 1, 2002- Monday- Day 157
9:00pm- We got off to a slow start this morning and we are only about 3 miles out of Murphy. I spent a little too much money there and that concerns me some. I have to practice frugality on a more serious side. My friendly weather person said this morning we should have 2 good days of weather before it turns sour again. We are going to take a short break here and hit the road, I don't see anything down the road that says civilization. So, we'll move as much as we can today. It doesn't look like its going to be a pleasant road for walking, either. The same old no-shoulder type road I have been having night-mares over the last 2 weeks. So much fun, I can't stand it.
12:00 noon- We got another lucky break today and I am placed safely in Blue Ridge Ga. A fellow by the name of Mike Shaw, a fellow member of the 'Apalachion Trail Conference' picked us up and like all the other rides asked if I was headed for the trail. I would hate to have to rely on these peoples directions, it is plain as day to me I am heading away from the A.T. I shouldn't be to hard on them though, there are signs along the trail about every hundred yards. No signs along here, so they are totally lost, I guess!
We are across the bridge from downtown Blue Ridge and I don't see any of those mountains that Hank is always talking about. I see a few rolling hills, that's about all. Maybe they only bring them out at night. I better start looking for a phone book, and see if I can locate my little buddy Hank.
2:00pm- My luck has changed a bit, I got hold of Hank, he has moved up here and left Miami behind. Great, let the Cubans have it! He gave me directions to his house and we headed that way. Odd that he lives on Galloway Rd. and he lived on Galloway Rd. in Miami. We walked about 5 miles and I found Galloway Rd. and I think I found Hank's house, but didn't see any movement or any lights. I waited out of sight for about an hour and a half, and nothing. Well, my luck ran out, so we headed back to Blue Ridge and I'll call him on my way out of town tomorrow. I love hank and his family, and would like to see them, before I go on, but I have to go on and get out of these hill-billy haunts.
6:00pm- I am half way back to Blue Ridge and its getting dark, so me and Skil's decided to look for a spot of woods to pitch camp. I know that I can't oversleep around here, because we are probably on private property. I never sleep late anyway, but will have to be quiet as a mouse. I hope this was not an April Fools joke of Hank's.

Happy Easter!!

March 31, 2002- Sunday- Day 156

Well dang it, today is Easter and I didn't get Skil's an Easter basket.What kind of daddy am I? The truth is I didn't know it was Easter, so I won't mention it to him. We decided not to leave today and try to dry everything and avoid carrying that extra 50lbs. of water. I got over to the town this morning and it is really a nice town. Real old-fashioned type, a bell ringing at the church, calling all to service. "On a Sunday morning sidewalk. I'm wishin' lord that I was stoned......Etc." I may be feeling a might melancholy this fine morning. I tried to get hold of Bill and Margret , but The phone number I have is not in service at this time. They are not listed in the book either. Oh Oh!, thats not a good sign. I regret not coming up to visit when they ask me, Lord that was 10 years ago, Damn!

I have seen a lot of trees barreling past in the river, I am guessing that storm we had yesterday, created some havoc up in the mountains. The river has risen at least 2 feet, since I got here. Great place and wish there was someway I could hang out some more, but got to move on tomorrow. We are going to head for Blue Ridge Ga. tomorrow, I think I can get pretty close in one day. I don't think its over twenty miles, but nothing I think I know, holds much water anymore. Only my clothes

Murphy's Law- Rain Even if not Needed!

March 30, 2002- Saturday- Day 155

A wicked rain fall today that has everything soaking wet. I am going to be carrying a lot of weight if I leave here before all this shit dries. I still can't get over the fact I can't buy a damn beer here. I have been through dry counties, counties that only sold 3.2 beer, but never one that sold hard-liquor only. Earlier I saw a pack of wild-dogs pass through here and they were on the hunt, for sure. Skil's stood his ground and my presence nearby convinced them to keep on moving. We ate breakfast at MacDonalds this morning between outbursts of falling water. We are going to walk over into town as soon as we can, just to look around. I'll try to see if I can locate Bill Kroll too. This rain just isn't showing no sign of easing up, though. I can't believe the campsite we have, boy, this is as good as it gets. Wish I had my fly-rod, I bet I could snatch a fish or two out of this river.