Hiawassee on 2/23

Made it to Hiawassee safe and sound. Juniper and I have picked up a third NOBO'er named Dan (we dubbed him Salamander). I've reverted to calling Juniper J and Salamander Sal. Trying to be ultralite! Coming to the Bpatch was a great decision - I am getting the faithful conversations I need for motivation. What an incredible couple.
I am officially clean and now in the public library. The last three days from Neels have been great... we went Neels-Low Gap-Tray Mtn-Hiawassee. I have become an extremely hungry young woman. Out of Neels we had a "pack shakedown" by a very nice man-Alpine-who could only get rid of a deoderant from my pack! I was pretty proud of myself. Juniper had to get new boots, however, so we left at about 12:15. About a mile out of Walasi-Yi, feeling refreshed and glad to be back on the trail, we met two SOBO's who were only 2 more hiking days away from their completed trip! Iceman and Tundra Wookie looked like warriors, and were incredibly kind for our brief interchange. Meeting them was so motivating - it was strange, I didn't want to be finishing, because I haven't had the journey, but I prayed fiercely that I will have the opportunity to finish what I've started. As two end, many others begin. I have to own my journey... got a long way to go. Carolina here we come!
The last two days I've been jumping out of my sleeping bag and walking alone with the Lord for the morning hours, just singing along the trail, praying, and being. Today I was really involved in "Country Roads" and two Emory guys came around the corner. Whoops! Dang summer camp... I can barely separate walking and singin! My body's holding up pretty well. My right knee is pretty darn sore, and my right achilles tendon is also a bit swollen. But nothing (I pray) that will stop me from hitting the NOC! Tomorrow we are taking a "pseudo-zero" day - less than 5 miles to our next shelter to let our bodies recover from the shock of the initial week.
"Give me singleness of purpose, strength to lift the burden of my fellow man, and realization of the privelege that is mine, so I may rely on You with the simple faith of a child."