November 11th: Marthas Vineyard to Standing Indian Shelter NC/GA Border 1,001 miles

The Doors? Jim Morrison? He’s a drunken buffoon posing as a poet. 
Give me the guess who. They got the courage to be drunken buffoons, which makes them poetic.-Lester Bangs in ALmost Famous

I dropped my phone/ipod in a cup of water soon after getting under way, leading me to try a suspectede urban myth for cell phone repair.  I stopped at a market and bought a bag of rice.  I shut the phone off and stuck it in the rice.  This is suppose to save a wet phone.  It wouldn’t save the ride as now i am at the mercy of American radio along appalachia, not a promising outlook for sure.  With such a long drive, i wanted to rock out, so i coonstantly rolled the dial to find good tunes.  Dissapointing, to say the least, as i passed by endless tones of ancient schlock rock from yesteryear; Supertramp, Foreigner, Bad Company, Jethro Tull, and REO Speedwagon.  I was shocked.  Who the hell likes REO Speedwagon!!?? They suck monster ass, and even they know it.  I can’t believe one person in america hears that crap come on the radio, and says, “hell yeah! the Speedwagon!”  No way.  It just shows how the playlists on this massive radio conglomerates are generated by brain dead marketing cats, in the pockets of the major record companies trying to sell “the Essential Reo Speedwagon” CD’s at Walmart to fat, middle aged dork on his way to pick up new golf clubs for his big golfing trip to Myrtle Beach!  The best song i heard the whole trip down was “Gimme All Your Lovin” by ZZ Top, not their best but at least they have some balls.  The country stations were playing that new country crap nobody likes.  i listened to preachers and right wing political talk.  I remember a station announcing they were going to rebroadcast the Rush Limbaugh show from earlier in the day and i was excited.  shocking.  thats how bad it was.  I met up with my hiking partner Jon at Deep Gap and we hikled up to Standing Indian Shelter.  Jon’s a talker, he has opinions on everything, which would be fascinating if he looked like Natalie Portman, but he just had her height.  The Other hiker was already there, Robert E Lee from Orlando.  Robert seemed like a cool guy, was a dead ringer for record producer, Searcher, and usually prefaced his intentions with “I’m Fixing to …….” It got real cold real fast and i set up my bag and got dressed real heavy and tried to go to sleep. Small talk kept us occupied for a hour or two, then the boedom set in for me as the other two drifted off to sleep leaving me staring at the sky.

November 12th Indian Spring Shelter to Spring Gap Shelter 14.4 miles

“AnnaBelle, the dying leaves
Are dancing off of the trees.
They got an easy way.

Let’s you and me
Go dancing, too,
Wreck our dancing shoes.
Hey, hey, hey.
-“Radio Song” The Felice Brothers

I started at 7:30 am after basically no sleep.  I was excited, though and hit the ground running and never looked back.  I hummed the above song for most of the morning, and it fit nicely with my exuberance.  I was amazed at the beauty that i saw; the long tunnels of Rhody’s, the still thriving azaleas, holly’s, and the leaves falling from the Oaks, Maples, Walnuts, Beech’s, and Poplars.  They “call this sectioon of the AT “The Long Green Tunnel” and i can see why.  There was a very tough creek to pass over, and the views at Betty Creek Gap and Albert mountain were spectacular.  The trail was easy compared to the Northeast i felt because of the switchbacks, but ALbert mountain was a tough climb, with a lot of hand over hand action.  I was exhausted after climbing Albert and went to the shelter and waited 3 hours for the guys to get in.  i made a good dinner of Pesto pasta and a quart of water, and went to bed in the shelter by myself.  I felt the other cats were a bit tiffed that i hiked alone, and way ahead, but thats just how i like to do it.  i felt free and good and strong all day, but i did need sleep.

November 13th: Spring Gap Shelter to Silers Bald 12.5 miles

The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action.-John Dewey

Sleep was ok, maybe four hours, with critters about all night, i finally got up at 4:00 am to read a bit.  Started hiking at 8:38 am towards Silers Bald.  I thought it was going to be an easy day, but hiking at the other guys pace was tough.  We started out so slow with a ton of breaks, that it took till noon for the first third of the day to be behind us.  By then i was weary of my way too heavy pack, and i wilted.  Robert shot out in front and we never saw him again.  Jon was ahead of me most of the time, but he stops so much to take his shoes off, that i could always catch him.  At dark, we knew Robert was down at the SHelter maybe 500 ft below the peak, but Jon wanted to still go up the mountain.  I felt bad about leaving Robert alone, and i guess part of me never was in sync with jON the rest of the trip after this, but he insisted we move up and set up camp, and Robert would hopefully , meet us.  He didnt.  We also had a water issue, we had none.  We set up camp on a major slope in a bad spot isolated from the trail. Dogs, hunting for Bears were all around barking early in the night.  I made a quick dinner of Vegan Lentil Soup, and went to bed.  I slept very solid, ten hours, my somber induced by the constant farting of Jon in the tent 20 ft away.

November 15th : Cold Spring Shelter to Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) 11.1 miles

Hey look everybody! its Tony Robbins!-Tommy Boy to Richard in “tommy Boy”

By this point in the trip, i had been growing weary of Jon’s trail philosophy. “Corporate America is the new Fuedal System!”, The new world order is “wage slavery”, “you need to stop and take your shoes off a couple times a day”, he’s got a self help quote for every occassion and the only way to hike is his way, slow and loud, with lots of “doobie snacks”. Don’t get me wrong, i’d love to hike with Tony Robbins, he seems like a cool guy, he could probably help me with my anxiety problems, and he is pretty big so he could probably carry my pack, (although he did commit the sin of appearing in the ultimate comedy crime, the Farrelly Brothers/Jack Black disaster “Shallow Hal”).

After a few choice pictures of the sunrise over the valley below and a very small breakfast, i headed out at sun break. I needed to distance myself from the other guys and get myself some peace. Robert i will miss, but i just needed a little bit of quiet. I rushed out quick making only short stops at alll the vistas, Rocky Bald being the most impressive, and then hit the most excruciating descent of the week. As came down the 5,000-foot peak, i felt my toenails coming off my feet. I started to expiriment with my stride but nothing really worked and i kept on till 1:15pm and i arrived at the NOC. I went straight into the lodge and ordered a Burger and a sweet tea. That lasted only to warm up for my two huge pink lemonades and ice cream. i them ambled up to base camp and secluded myself in the showers for a long hot soaking. Later, i went into town with EMO TOLSTOY, a thru hiker with an easy going manner, an apparent christian rock leaning, and a dream of being a pot dealer on the John Muir trail. Good kid. He bought a 12 pack of PBR’s and brought them back to camp, and he crashed with us talking tales of the trail, and life ahead. He reminded me of me at the same age, only a little better off having done the trail. I slept very little as Jon played Pandora radio in camp, it seemed like it was playing Dave Mathews greatest hits. i needed relief.

November 14th: Silers Bald to Cold Spring Shelter 12.8 miles

Crimson flames tied through my ears
Rollin’ high and mighty traps
Pounced with fire on flaming roads
Using ideas as my maps
“We’ll meet on edges, soon,” said I
Proud ‘neath heated brow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I’m younger than that now.-Bob Dylan “My Back Pages”

I got up at 6:00am prepped my gear very quickly, and skipped breakfast. I had no water so i couldnt cook. Totally dehydrated i pushed Jon to get going towards the other end of Silers Bald in search of water. My mind was also worried about how Robert was doing. We encountered a trail angel up at the top of the bald who had a satchel of water she let me hit. I crushed it. It tasted so good, with a hint of her lip balm on the nozzle. I felt bad having drank so much. We chatted for a bit and ran into Steve another hiker who we encountered yesterday. He hammocked down the mountain some. Jon stopped to take a crap, so i moved ahead, not wanting to see that, and made great time the reat of the morning. I got to Wayah Bald by 10:45am and hung out there till Robert and Jon showed up at 12:30pm. The sun was very warm and i soaked it up and chatted with hikers all the time, including a nioce SOBO from Maine by the name of Cargo Pockets. A family up there, brought me a couple of bottles of water, which was real sweet. I knocked those two out real quick, and was a bit embarressed by my gluttonous display. i did cook some lunch up there and that was real nice. We took off at 1:30 and made our way to Cold Spring Shelter only to find about a dozen mice on the fireplace dead. UGH!…. we moved up about 100 ft in elevation and camped. i slept very well again. I am feeling younger than i have in years, in mind, spirit and body. I had that Dylan lyric in my head all day, i think its about renewed innocence, a spiritual rebirth, but in reality i think Bob was beginning to see the radicals that were using him as their savior, and spokeman for what they really were: what he would later refer to them as “Napoleon in Rags” in Like a Rolling Stone. Still i felt good, and independent of all the junk we are accustomed to, and looking forward to tommorrow.

November 16: NOC to Stecoah Gap 14.1 miles

Look at you: member of the honor roll, assistant to the assistant manager of the movie theater. I’m tellin’ ya, Rat, if this girl can’t smell your qualifications, then who needs her, right-Mike Damone in Fast Times at Ridgemont High

I barely slept, woke at 5:00 am, barely ate, spoke to nobody, snuck past EMO TOLSTOY’s dog and made my way outside the base camp, to prepare my pack for the day. I reduced my pack weight by at least 25%, and made my way towards the trail at about 7:15am and headed out on my own. Dave Mathews music still rung in my head from the night before, and i wasn’t happy about that. I was scared that this climb out of the NOC toward the Cheoah Bald would be too much for me. Its considered the toughest climb of the southern Appalachians, and a day where many thru-hikers do less than ten miles. Quickly my apprehension went away as i was gaining a thousand feet per half hour to 45 minutes. My Legs felt good and i passed Sassafras Gap shelter at ten minutes till 11:00 am. I pushed on till 1:15pm near Stecoah GAP and then jumped down accidently at some point to a service road that led me quickly back towards sassafras. I met up with Robert and Jon at darn near three o’clock. they were heading up to the Bald to camp, (frankly i was shocked that it took them that long to get to there, but they were taking lots of pictures). I felt too good to stop and i pushed down towards the NOC, retracing my steps, but not before a run in with three younger people, likely late teens. A girl named Ashley, a white trashy blonde with two goofballs came stumbling down the mountain from Cheoah Bald. To see this girl is like getting transported back 20 years. she had big blond hair, a white “i Love the USA” t shirt with a blue bra underneath that showed through the t shirt. it was also cut off about 3 inches under her breasts, exposing her slighltly paunch midsection. She looked like Jennifer Jason Leigh in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” after Linda (Phoebe Cates) turns her into a slut that leads to sleepin with that older guy Doug and then Mike Damone. The rest of the trip back to the NOC i had that Jackson Browne song stuck in my head “Somebody’s Baby” from the scene in the movie where Stacy is riding in Doug’s Camaro toward the dugout up at the “Point”. I hiked the last couple miles in the dark and i scurried a couple of bears away at dusk. They move so quick, you never have time to get the camera out. i got back to the NOC after 6:00 pm and ate nothing. I just went to sleep. i don’t know how many miles exactly i did since i used the service road some of the way back but it was over 23 miles and likely more. i ran for a good chunk of the day, especially at the end.

November 17: Stecoah Gap to Fontana Dam

I’m a Waffle House guy, I got to stay in touch with that. Roy Mcevoy in Tin Cup

Bull Durham got all the accolades for Ron Shelton and Kevin Costner, but Tin Cup has better staying power. Costner as a million dollar talent with none of the intangibles that make a champion plays better and funnier over time than a savvy minor league catcher with Susan Sarandon overacting. Bull Durham has no “rewatchability”. Much like the guys who follow Tin Cup to the US Open, dreaming of hitting the Waffle House, i started my final day of the trail with a similar determination. I didn’t care what time i finished this 15.8 mile section, i just knew Waffle House was ion my future. I no longer cared about the majestic vistas, the bottomless gaps, the Rhodendrons, Azaleas, mosses, Pines, Bears or Foxes. I just kept redoing and figuring out my order, when i did finally sit down. We don’t have Waffle House in the Northeast, i and i hit the ground fast. I knocked out the first 7 miles in less than 3 hours and the climbs didn’t bother me at all. I looked at only my feet and nothing else. I ran into no hikers, and only two bear hunters, until the second half of the run. “Hot Sauce” and her boyfriend (name escapes me), were some later arriving southbound thru hikers, i encountered near Cable Gap. They were much like most thru hikers, easy going, happy to be close and ill at ease at re-entering society. After i blew past them i started to slow down and took a few pictures of the groundcovers i had been looking at all week, and was guffawing at the approaching view of Fontana Dam. The Dam seperates the Mountains that i have been hiking with the Smoky Mountain National Park. Its beautiful and did stop long enough to get a few pictures before heading over to the HIKE INN, a famous hiker motel and AT shuttle service to talk to the propietor about my shuttle needs for a thru hike in the spring. I jumped in my car which was shuttled to me and enjoyed the warm heat, and the music. “Murder by Mistletoe” came over the CD player, a Felice Brothers song and i nearly cried. I missed music out there, and i missed their music most of all. I cranked the heat and heading off to Asheville and the Waffle House (Steak and Eggs, over easy, two Orange Juices, hashbrowns, white toast). Victory. I too was feeling conflicted. I was needed back at work, and was under tremendous pressure to go back, but i loved the feeling of exhaustion i had, and knew i could not replace it at home

Auction to benefit LYN House

Nick Roberts of Indianapolis is auctioning many of his most treasured items (for Felice Brothers fans), to Benefit the LYN House in Indy.

The LYN House Mission Statement: “With a commitment to Christian love for poverty affected residents of Indianapolis, LYN House seeks to show compassionate hospitality and transformational care.”

The LYN house is located on the near Eastside of Indianapolis directly across from the First Free Methodist Church. The LYN House is an existing community of believers opening themselves to welcome people to come in and be a part of their community. The LYN House will strive to meet the educational, physical,and emotional, and spiritual needs of the community. The ultimate goals of the LYN House are to provide a safe place for the community’s residents, to gather for fellowship, and to help meet the educational needs of the community through tutoring and mentoring.
Here are the auction items:

I have 4 signed copies of “The Big Empty”
7 Duke & The King Album Promo Posters, all signed
1 Duke & The King EP Signed
2 Bush Hall Concert Posters, both signed

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI…=STRK:MESELX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI…=STRK:MESELX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI…=STRK:MESELX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI…=STRK:MESELX:IT

Hike Plan

2010 appalachian Trail Thru Hike Daily Plan

FEB 20-to Gooch Mtn Shelter 14.7 miles
FEB 21-to Neels Gap Walasi Yi Hostel 16.0 miles
FEB 22-to Low Gap Shelter 10.5 miles
FEB 23-to the Blueberry Patch Hiawasee GA 15.3 miles
FEB 24-to Muskrat Creek SHelter NC 11.2 miles
FEB 25-to Carter Gap Shelter 12.5 miles
FEB 26-to rock Gap Shelter 12.4 miles
FEB 27-to To Cold Spring Shelter 19.4 miles
FEB 28-to Sassafras Gap Shelter 18.4 miles
MARCH 1-To Fontana Dam 20.7 miles
MARCH 2-to Mollies Shelter TN 11.4 miles
MARCH 3-to Silers Bald SHelter 15.8 miles
MARCH 4-to Icewater Spring Shelter 15.5 miles
mARCH 5-to knob Corner Spring Shelter 12.8 miles
MARCH 6-to Davenport Gap Shelter 14.8
March 7-to Raoring Fork Shelter 21.8 miles
MARCH 8-To Spring Mountain SHelter 11.0 miles
March 9-to Flint Mtn Shelter 21.2
March 10-to Bald Mtn shelter 19.8 miles
March 11-To Erwin TN. 23.0 miles
March 12-to Roan High Shelter 11.0 miles
MARCH 13-To Elk Park 15.2 miles
MARCH 14-to Moreland Gap Shelter 12.5 miles
MARCH 15-to Hampton Tn 15.0 Miles
MARCH 16-to SHady Valley Tenn 27.0 miles
MARCH 17-to Damascus VA 14.3 miles
MARCH 18-to Lost Mountain SHelter 14.8 Miles
MArch 19-to Wise Shelter 17.5 Miles
march 20-to Troutdale VA 15.9 Miles
MARCH 21-to Atkins 25.9 miles
MARCH 22-to knot maul Branch Shelter 14.00 miles
MARCH 23-to Jenkins Shelter 19.00 miles
MARCH 24-to Bland VA, 11.7 miles
March 25-to Jenny Knob Shelter 12.0 miles
March 26-to Docs Knob Shelter 23.4 miles
March 27-to Pearisburg, 7.8 miles
MARCH 29-to Pines Swamp Branch Shelter 18.7 miles
MARCH 30-to Laurel Creek Shelter 18.5 miles
MARCH 31-to Pickle Branch Shelter 21.5 miles (.3 miles off trail)
APRIL 1-to Catawba Mtn. Shelter 14.6 miles
APRIL 2-to Cloverdale VA 17.8 miles
APRIL 3-to Buchanan VA 21.7 miles
APRIL 4-to Thunder Hill Shelter 20.4 miles
APRIL 5-to Big Island VA 14.7 miles
APRIL 6-to Lexington VA 21.8 miles
APRIL 7-to the Priest Shelter 20.9 miles
April 8-to Maupin Field Shelter 13.7 miles
April 9-to Waynesboro, VA 20.8 miles
April 10-to Blackrock Hut 19.9 miles
April 11-to Hightop Hut 21.4 miles
April 12-to Skyline Drive Cabin 11.8 miles
April 13-to Luray VA 8.7 miles
April 14-to Gravel Springs Hut 14.3 miles
April 15-to Linden Va 19.8 miles
April 16-to Snickers Gap 19.2 miles
April 17-to Harpers Ferry 18.9 miles (halfway!)
April 18-to Ed Garvey Shelter 7.0 miles
April 19-to Smithsburg MD 24.6 miles
April 20-to Rocky Mtn Shelter 23.9 miles
April 21-to Pine Grove Furnace State Park 12.9 miles
April 22-to Boiling Springs PA 19.6 miles
April 23-to Darlington Shelter 15.3 miles
April 24-to Norfolk VA 14.7 miles
April 25-to Peters Shelter 9.5 miles
APRIL 26-to Swatara Gap 23.5 miles
April 27-to 501 SHELTER 11.4 miles
April 28-to Hamburg Pa 24.2 miles
April 29-to Blue Rocks Campground 8.8 miles
April 30-to Allentown Hiking Club Shelter 13.1 miles
May 1-to Palmertown PA 17.7 miles
May 2-to WindGap PA 20.5 miles
May 3-to Delaware Water Gap PA 15.6 miles
May 4-to Mohican Outdoor Center NJ 10.7 miles
May 5-to Gren Anderson Shelter 20.9 miles
May 6-to Highpoint State Park 11.3 miles
May 7-to Vernon NJ 18.9 miles
May 8-to Wildcat SHelter NY 17.4 miles
May 9-to William Brien Memorial SHelter 19.6 miles
May 10-to Peekskill NY 14.7 miles
May 11-to Clarence Fahnestock State Park 12.4 miles
May 12-to Telephone Pioneers Shelter 23.8 miles
May 13-to Wiley Shelter 7.7 miles
May 14-to Mt Algo Lean CT to 12.4 miles
May 15-to Pine Swamp Brook 17.3 Miles
May 16-to Salisbury Connecticut 15.7 miles
May 17-to Great Barrington Ma 22.1 miles
May 18 Go Home
May 19-SEPT 15 Work for summer.

667 miles to go to Mt Katahdin in Maine with exactly 1,500 miles of trail behind me
September 1-to Mt. Katahdin summitt 15.2 miles Weekend trip because Katahdin will be closed when i finish
September 15-to Upper Goose Pond Cabin 28.2 miles
September 16-to Kay Wood Lean to 17.6 miles
September 17-to Bascom Lodge 20 miles
September 18-to Seth Warner Shelter VT 13.3 miles
September 19-to Bennington Vt 11.5 miles
September 20-to Story Spring Shelter 19.0 miles
September 21-to Manchester vT 21.1 Miles
September 22-to Old Job Shelter 16.3 miles
September 23-to clarendon Shelter 17,1 miles
September 24-to Rutland 16.4 miles
September 25-to Wintturi Shelter 19.9 miles
September 26-to West Hartford VT 16.4 miles
September 27-to Moose mtn Shlter 20.8 miles
September 28-to Firewarden’s Cabin 12.4
September 29-to Glencliff NH 19.9 miles
September 30-to Eliza Brook Shelter 17 miles
October 1-to Franconia Notch 8.8 miles
October 2-to Galehead Hut 13.0 miles
October 3-to Crawford Notch 14.7 miles
October 4-to Hermit Lake Shelter 12.5 miles
October 5-to Pinkham Notch 13.5 miles
October 6-to Imp Shelter 13.1 miles
October 7-to Gorham 8.0 miles
October 8-to Carlo Col Shelter ME 17.3 miles
October 9-to Grafton Notch 19.1 miles
October 10-to Andover 10.3 miles
October 11-to Black Brook Ford 10.1
October 12-to Sabbath Day Pond 17.0 miles
October 13-to Rangely 9.6 miles
October 14-to Spaulding Mtn. Lean To 18.7 miles
October 15-to Stratton 13.5 miles
October 16-to Little Bigelow Lean to 15.3 miles
October 17-to Pierce Pond Lean To 17.3 Miles
October 18-to Pleasant Pond Lean To 9.7 miles
October 19-to Moxie Bald Lean To 12.1 miles
October 20-to Monson 12.9 miles
October 21-to North Pond 3.8 miles
October 22-to Chairback Gap Lean To 20.2 Miles
October 23-to Logan Brook Lean to 17.1 miles
October 24-to Cooperbrook Falls Lean To 11.7 miles
October 25-to Potaywadjo Spring Lean To 11.4 miles
October 26-to Rainbow Stream Lean to 18.9 miles
October 27-to Abol Bridge 15.0 miles

Total Days 159
Total Miles 2,167 (excluding trips into towns)

2010 Appalachian Trail Hike for Hunger

In February 201o, I will be leaving Mt Springer in Georgia in quest of 2,167 mile trek through the Appalachian Trail towards Mt. Katahdin in Maine.  I will be doing so in hopes of raisng money for people who are hungry, or need some sort of help.  I urge other hikers to do the same.  Whether you are hiking the entire trail, or just a portion its a great opportunity to pitch in.  Sponsor sheets are available by requesting one at Mvbigtuna@yahoo.com

My hike will be to benefit, for the most part Feeding America, which is a network of food banks all over this country, The Harry Chapin Foundation, which is trying to preserve the ideals of the singer/songwriter of the same name who was a great champion those who are struggling, and Camp Safe Haven, here in my hometown, that provides a summer camp for young people affected by HIV and AIDS.

Pick your own cause, close to your heart.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply The A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States, extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.^[2] It is approximately 2,175 miles (3,500 km)^a[›] long. The path is maintained by thirty trail clubs and multiple partnerships.^[3] The majority of the trail is in wilderness, although some portions do traverse towns and roads, and cross rivers.

The Appalachian Trail is famous for its many hikers, some of whom, called thru-hikers, attempt to hike it in its entirety in a single season. Earl Shaffer was the first to do so. Many books, memoirs, web sites and fan organizations are dedicated to this pursuit.

Along the way, the trail passes through the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. An extension, the International Appalachian Trail, continues north into Canada and to the end of the range, where it enters the North Atlantic Ocean.

here is a video from Feeding America,