A Good Start!

I have heard from Tom and am providing this update to the blog today.  Once he reaches Fontana Dam, North Carolina next week the wireless signals should be available for him to post more news and pictures.
On Sunday Feb 23 Tom, Nikki, Koa and I took Tom up to Springer Mountain where we hiked the first mile with him then off he went for the adventure of a lifetime. Tom tells me the weather is breaking him in slowly. Initially there were 65 degree days and cool nights from Springer Mountain.

Since then it has rained one day mid day and one morning his water bottle had frozen solid due to the cold weather. He has camped out each night except last night where he stayed at Blueberry Patch Hostel outside Hiawassee, Georgia.  "It was awesome" he tells me. They were provided a hot breakfast of eggs, biscuits, hotcakes and coffee this morning and a warm place to sleep last night. The hostel is a Christian Ministry and he was blown away by their hospitality. He has hiked 69 miles since Sunday afternoon. Yesterday he was the recipient of his first trail magic. As he and his hiking buddy, Zach or "Shaggy Moe" ,came near their stopping point two section hikers offered them a lift to the hostel and also their leftover trail food. They felt very blessed. This morning the folks from the hostel will drive all the hikers back the 3 miles to the trail and by tonight Tom thinks he will be in North Carolina.
He is enjoying the community of hikers and has found everyone to be very friendly. It seems to be like an extended family. So far his legs and feet are holding up great. 
We plan to meet up at Fontana Village, North Carolina at the end of the week.
Anne Johnson