Fiery Gizzard March 21-23

“Larry's is listed as being on US41 in Monteagle. I'm guessing it's between Tracy City and Monteagle, so I suppose we'd stop there right before Pizza Hut.”

“US 41 on the left, by a gas station”

“Yeah, Larry's Army Navy store is a cool place to stop. It's between Monteagle & Tracy City.
I'll prolly meet up with yall for Saturday night. Even if I gotta work I would still have time to get to what ever campsite yall would be at.”

“I am now a definite yes for this trip. I still have to work Friday night so I might not make it to the trailhead by 9:00am Sat morning. If yall are already gone I will probably take the Doghole trail up and meet you guys at Small Wilds for Sat night assuming that is where you will be staying.”

“OK, i'm back from Virginia and North Carolina. what's up/ too much to read/ any questions?”

“I posted on the other site as a maybe for this trip. Thought I should post here as well. Hiked the trail week before last...plenty of water along the way. Am off to Pisgah this Friday but should be back by Tues or so. Might get to see you fellas along the trail sometime Saturday...have to work Friday night.”

“BBill, hope you can make it.”

“What time are you planning for Friday?
Someone said camp at the CCC camp Friday night and Small Wilds Sat. Night.
Is this the plan?
I can't make it early Friday.
I'll be taking a vacation day Friday and it will take me all day to drive up from the MS Coast.”

“That plan sounds good to me, SS.”

“I will be up at the Grundy Forest end by 9 on Saturday morning. L ooking forward to seeing everyone then!”

“Crap, I can't make it til mid-morning or after lunch on saturday now. But, I can still make it.”

“I was just informed of a design review I must attend the week after the hike. I will have to fly to the meeting site the Sunday of the hike. :(
Working for a living sucks.

Hey Bitpusher, I think a higher power doesn't want us to hike together. I think this makes 3 trips one or the other of us had to bail on.”

“Hmmm....maybe so.

You still thinking about the Blood Mountain trip?”

“Hey SS, just fly out of Nashville. You can still make the trip!”

“Ha ha, yea. My travel department is incapable of geting simple trips right. Throw in leaving from a second city, FURGETABOUTIT.

I'm a very strong maybe for the Lost Cove, NC trip. (about 95% sure)
Blood Mt is still to far away to know for sure. I really want to go on this one. Very good group of people going.”

“OK, well, I tried. I guess they won't let you do your own reservations, eh? The last place I worked they did because it was so small they didn't have a travel department.”

“It looks like I will not be able to make it either. That is the only weekend for a month or so that I can take the time to visit my mother in Hattiesburg. She is at that age where I can't really miss any opportunities to do that.”

“You will be missed chili. Tell mama we said hi!”

“Hey bit, if it is any consolation I am still going”

“And I am glad of it. You have to work Friday night though, right?”

“I am trying to get my brother to come along, but he won't return my calls. I bet it's his new wife, grrrrrr....”

“Yeah, I work Friday night so it will be around 9:00 Sat morning before I get there.”

“Anybody else planning on staying at the CCC campsite Friday night?”

“Trying to read the entire thread's making my brain hurt. Have y'all settled on a plan yet? Cant decide whether I can make it until I know what I'm trying to make.”

“Staying at the CCC campsite Friday night, Small Wilds Saturday night, out at Foster Falls Sunday. Going to have to get some shuttle help Saturday morning though.”

“my plan is the same as bitpusher's except I won't be there Friday night.”

“Took another vacation day today, so am heading to Knoxville tonight, then on to NC tomorrow. Hope to make it to the Gizzard Saturday...still working next Friday as of now. Keep me posted if the itinerary changes and I will check back when I get back to Middle TN.”

“I think Bitpusher has the itenerary nailed down. We may be able to set up a shuttle Friday night between you Binks & myself.”

“binks posted this yesterday:

"Crap, I can't make it til mid-morning or after lunch on saturday now. But, I can still make it."
bbinkley
09:27:51 PM
03/12/03”

“I've got a Dakota Quadcab, so if we want to leave my truck at Foster, that's ok with me.”

“Doh! Oh well Bitpusher & I can still drop off one vehicle.”

“Sounds like a good trip, but I don't think I can make it. Don't see myself driving 9 hours for a weekend hiking trip. Just cant put that kinda mileage on my car. Its making angry noises these days.”

“Bitpusher, what time are you going to try to get to the Grundy area Friday? A friend of mine here in Nashville is gonna try to make the trip with me. I haven't talked to him about using his truck, but we may be able to use it for the shuttle.”

“It will probably be around 5:00PM or so. I'm going to take off from work a little early, so I can get there and set up camp before it gets dark. If that's not good, let me know when a good time is.”

“Talked to my brother earlier today. He may come along, and he may also bring his new bride. We'll see.”

“Keep me posted. If Sister-in-law shows, Mrs. Currahee may want to go.”

“I'm not optimistic, as she's never done any backpacking before. But you never know.”

“hey bit, since your sister-in-law hasn't done any backpacking yet you could give her a push up the side of the gorge like Father Goose had to do to the one that came with him...lol”

“lol, Ewk...it may come to that. My sis-in-law is in better shape though, I doubt if it will be that bad.

I'm a little iffy for this trip right now...I strained my neck this weekend and now it's tighter than a drum. I have some serious muscle relaxers now though, so I'm hoping I'll still be able to make it.”

“Are you cryin' BP?
There's no crying in the FG!!”

“Another muscle relaxer and I won't even know what crying is...lol...”

“hey bit, how are the muscle relaxers doing today. Are you feeling any pain”

“I'm still feeling pretty stiff. Neck still hurts. I'm not too sure about this. I'll know Friday. I'm still acting like I'm going to go, but if I'm still stiff on Friday, I probably won't make it.”

“Im a definite for saturday morning. I got a new pack and Im looking forward to putting it to work.”

“...is still stiff. I'm still optimistic though.

My brother has said he is about 90% sure he will come on this trip. His wife and her mom are going on a trip this weekend.”

“bit, you can't let your brother down now. Stiff neck or not you have to go now.”

“I know, he hasn't gotten out in a long time. Unless I am in absolute agony, I will probably come. Along with a lot of good muscle relaxers and narcotics, lol!”

“I'll be bringin a lil sumthin to wash 'em down with.

disclaimer: in no way does currahee condone or promote the notion of mixing narcotics with a perfectly good Irish Whiskey.”

“Yes, my doc warned me about that. Apparently it is a Big No-No...”

“yeah, it ruins the flavor.
BIG No-No”