Springer Mountain to Hiawassee, Georgia

You know you're a thru-hiker when... you would rather walk half way across the country than get on another greyhound bus

Sorry it has been a while since our last post. Mobile phone reception is patchy at best and it's not always easy to find internet access in the woods. Although we've already done just over 250 miles (400km), we thought we'd start at the beginning.

From Atlanta we took our final Greyhound journey to Gainesville. We're happy to report that it was an uneventful trip, and it only lasted an hour:-)

On arriving in Gainesville we went to the Burger King for food. As we sat crammed into the booth surrounded by our packs, a local with a mullet approached us and said, "do y'all need a lift to the trail?" We quickly refused his offer, stating that we were being picked up the next morning by the owner of the 'Hiker Hostel' recommended by all the hiking guides.

We decided to walk from our room in Gainesville to the local supermarket and set off following vague directions from the motel clerk. After an our of walking with no supermarket in sight, we decided to stop off at a petrol station for directions. After asking the cashier about the location, she replied, "You have to keep in the right lane and..." We quickly informed her that we had no car. Looking a bit perplexed, she thoughtfully responded, "I don't think you can get there without a car..."

We were picked up by Josh from the hostel, an avid hiker who was able to give us heaps of advice and reassurance for the trail. He told us that there was a shuttle leaving the hostel later that night to one of the local bars for dinner. In the same breath he also gave us a lesson in Southern bar etiquette, "Don't stare at anyone and don't mess with anyone. We have carrying laws in these parts. People have guns."

We shared our dinner table with a few guys who'd been out on the trail for a few days. By the time dinner was finished, we were convinced that we wouldn't make it up the first mountain without full climbing equipment and snow gear. On returning to the hostel, we saw a seasoned thru-hiker stripping down someone's pack to the bare essentials. We were slightly confused; two pairs of undies, two pairs of socks, one jumper, if you were feeling strong maybe a rain jacket. A tent was considered a luxury.

We were dropped at the start of the trail, Springer Mountain on the 27th of March and began our trudge into the woods waiting intently for our first encounter with a mountain/bear/shotgun wielding hillbilly.

According to our map, we were supposed to be climbing over the craggy mountains that we'd been told about the night before. We were puzzled after we spent the first three days pleasantly zig-zagging over gently undulating hills. The only problem we did have after the first few days had to do with hanging our food in a tree each night. All those who have ever hiked in Australia will know that this is a big no-no as it will be eaten. Amid much swearing and "buggered-if-I-know"ing we eventually bumbled through the first few days and are now quite efficient at it.

We survived the first 50 miles and managed to get a ride into town with one of our fellow hikers walking only a section of the trail. Hiawassee was quaint, but it provided for all the essentials; steak, shower, shopping...

Unfortunately we're out of internet time, but we'll try to update the rest when we can...