Timeline

I walked this entire trail and the only turkeys I saw were human.

Trail Name: Tempire

Total days on the trail 16

Total zeros: 2

Total neros: 1

Total days walking: 14

Average miles per day, including zeros: 21.75

Average miles per day, not including zeroes: 24.86

Most miles in one day: 36

Least miles in one day: 12

Total days hiked with other people: 3

Tooth crowns cracked: 1 🦷🥺

Great people I met: Nathan, Sonny, Jeff & Nancy, Jeremy, Rick, Bryce, Jessica, MarDe

Hostels stay

Today I walk into Dalton.

This is New Year’s Eve.

Some 20 years ago, I asked God to help me to never spend New Year’s Eve alone again.

My traveling partners are decidedly not early risers. Two hours after we wake up, we’re walking. It’s fascinating to watch such and different priority set and process. It may actually be fun…but don’t tell anyone.

Today we meet grizzly dog. This particular dog has a muscular bump like a grizzly bear, and similarly is the most aggressive dog of the entire Pinhoti.

This entire area is known for meth trafficking, apparently.

We found lots of amazing piles of discarded items strewn about the trail. Of course, lots of it is accessible by truck, which means humans, which means garbage.

This is a nice little oasis in the midst of what is a questionable section of the Pinhoti. I’m up and ready to go quickly, but I sit for a bit and take in the quiet.

Encouraged by my 32 mile day day yesterday, I’m off at a good pace.

Fortunately, what looked like another 10 miles of road walk was actually an old railroad line. It cut through the land like a road, but it was mostly trail of some sort.

I met several friends.

Now that I’m in Georgia, the road walks will become more prominent.

As such, today begins with a doozy: next 20 miles are roads of various types.

Two hours later they’re still here. I don’t think they’re leaving, which is ideal, because the Mexican restaurant is several miles away.

-

The other two hikers that showed up last night were Jessica and MarDe.

MarDe stayed in his room this morning, so it’s any guess what kind of character we’re dealing with here.