Where is HOI?

“I figured I would get a jump on it and start a thread early so you can get in on all the sniveling! BTW, where are you?”

“Is he not humping the AT?”

“still sitting at home for another 11 days or so”

“I suppose not....”

“Hey HOI!!!...have a WONDERFUL hike!!!!!!
...hugs...”

“thanks div - 1 more week then I'm out of here”

“good hiking to ya! yo bear!”

“Have great hike! I'll look for you when you reach my neck of the woods.

Are you keeping a journal?”

“no online journal - still deciding about a paper journal”

“Well, I'll look to TT for updates on your walk.”

“Hay HOG -
did you kno I was the tired to? Mebbe I culd walk on the Appalatchy trale with you to. But I prolly wuld not get good rets ever nite be cuz of all the rats runnin round. I wuld have mixt motions a bout gettin them ded, but I can not cuz I am the tired now (in less they get rite byside me then I wuld get them ded but not stawk them tho).

Enny ways I hope you get a perty good times on the Appalatchy trale.”

“Have a great hike. I hope it is all you hoped it would be.”

“I hope you'all have a great hike. Keep us posted.”

“HOI; Just a bit of advice(it's free)...
When I was planning my 1/2 hike many years ago I was lucky to have a couple thru-hikers around to give me tips. When I insisted that a journal and camera was just luxury weight I got a big speech. To sum it up; in a few years on some boring/rainy day you will be able to get out your journal and relive your trip.
I'm very glad I took thier advice, you'd be amazed at the little details you forget over the years and one little paragraph will remind you of so many other details you didn't write down at the time. I did the mail drop thing and everytime I went into town I'd mail the pics to my Dad and my journal entries for the last week to my Sis. It's a great way for your friends and loved ones to feel like they are a part of your trip. It also got my 25 rolls of film processed for free since my Dad was impatient to see them.

My advice - Keep A Journal!
Don't get caught in the town/hostel vortex and have a great time.

Crow PA>GA '97”

“I agree.”

“I'm disconnecting my phone tomorrow so today will be my last day of dial up internet access - I'll try to post Thursday from somewhere maybe a library but I may not depending on what is going on

in any case thanks for the advice and well wishes and perhaps I'll see y'all down the trail”

“Good luck, HOI! You'll be a mean, lean machine when you get spit out the end.

RM”

“Let my know when you get to Merryland, HOI.”

“I am here at Fridge's place - heading out in the morning for Springer.”

“We all hope you have a great hike, remember to listen to your body and stay safe!”

“Have a GREAT hike sweetie...we will be waiting to hear from you!!!!”

“good luck HOI!!!!! very awesome!”

“Have a great hike. Go HOI!”

“Savor it all HOI, enjoy!!!”

“Good walking, HOI.”

“enjoy!”

“peace”

“May the Force be with You!!!!”

“left my home around 8:30am with rain with us all the way.

HOI and I arrived at the parking lot .9 tenths mile from the summit of Springer Mt on Friday at 2:30 PM. The rain had finally given way to broken skies. As I began to unload my pack from the rear of my truck, Hoi had already grabbed hin and BOLTED to the summit saying Fridge, I'll see you there at the camping area. He was so excited and as everyone who knows HOI, knows he takes time trekking aong the trail. I quickly pulled my pack together with my lab mindy and followed. Now I know I was 5 minutes behind him and I never did catch him during that mile up Springer. When I did arrive, He had already pitched his hammock and tarp, setting on a log waiting for me. I laughed knowing then, he was pumped up.
I set up my hammock and we took the short haul to the summit of Springer taking numerous photos which, I'll post shortly.
Temps friday hovered around 40 ish with clouds , windy and some breaks with sun.

Saturfday morning at 5am HOI had gotten up and started to pack up his gear. I asked HOI, you ready.....Hell yea fridge, I'm nervous and had little sleep, I want to get going. So I quickly rolled out with no coffee and no breakfast and we shot down very quickly back down to the truck parked along the AT N bound. There we had cold Biscuits with bacon, Brownies, sweet rolls and drink. There also was Mt Squid playing Trail Magic with a hiker feed with all sorts of goodies to eat and drink for all the through hikers. Butter cup from kentucky who had hiked the AT back in 07 was there with Mt Squid. HOI tries to relax waiting for someone he was to met around 9:30 am and began there hike togeter but by 10ish rralized he was a no show so HOI set out approx 10:30 am N bound from the Springer parking lot and as I shook his hand ,I looked directly into his eyes as he expressed one of the biggest smiles I have ever seenon his face as he spoke the words, Fridge..this is what I have wanted to do for a long time.
last edited: 4/04/09 5:32:17 PM”

“GOOD LUCK HOI....Take it one blaze at a time.
last edited: 4/04/09 5:34:25 PM”

“seems , I cannot down load a picture so I'll set them up on a site and post later....sorry
last edited: 4/04/09 5:37:11 PM”

“Thanks, Fridge; good luck, HOI:)”

“hoi have a great hike”

“Thanks for the update Fridgy....
HOI....have a GREAT hike!!!!!!”

“What happened to Clyde? I thought he was going with you?”

“Clyde no show saturday so by 10:20 Hoi made the call he was heading out.”

“That is AWESOME! Rock the trail, Hog!!!!”

“I'm here in a Super 8 - Josh from Hiking Hostel was out of space at the hostel so I'm here in Dahlonega - going to get cold and very windy tonight so I am taking my first town stop a little earlier - sort of following in trekkngirl's footsteps.”

“you go HOI!”

“Hello HOI!!!!”

“ahoy hoi”

“HOI I just found out today that govmentmule is doing well on the trail and he made it into Franklin,NC today! He's running with a group doing a video documentary.LOL! When they get to town I'll bet they'll have somethin to film!”