Update!

Hi Everyone,

Sorry the blog hasn't been updated too recently. I have been on the road.

Shawn is just about to leave a hostel in very northern Georgia. He should be walking into North Carolina tomorrow or Sunday. Yesterday he took a "0 mile" day to rest and go food shopping. I'm going to break this post up by exciting updates rather than days.

Last weekend and the beginning of this week Shawn hiked about 12 miles every day. He had wonderful weather. One night was a particularly cold night. He was wearing all of his clothes but still had a hard time sleeping. The next day he got to the first town, so he decided to invest in a new sleeping bag. This one is ready for 20 degree weather. It is also a pound lighter. He seems to be extremely thrilled with this new purchase. Apparently it also came with a built in pillow at the top.

Thus far, I have been able to talk to him more than once a day. He has a lot of exciting stories to tell. A few days ago on the trail he met what he claims to be the nicest couple ever. He was walking across the road when someone started yelling to him. He walked over and was offered cold water, soda, cookies and fruit to hikers. He sat around and talked to them for about an hour before continuing on his way. The couple said that they come down for a couple weeks every year to help the hikers. The man said that he used to bring a 6 pack of beer every day incase any of the hikers wanted that option, but no one ever took him up on it so he stopped bringing them. I'm guessing that Shawn didn't do a spectacular job of hiding his disapointment.

One of my favorite stories was his experience in town yesterday. He went to a McDonald's, where I'm guessing that he was craving something with more than one 'all beef' patty, bacon and cheese. To the surprise of both of us and I'm sure many of you, half way through his burger and 1/3 of the way through his fries, he looked down at his food and realized that it was disgusting. He promptly threw it away and went back outside. I can tell you with confidence that this is the first time since Shawn and I started going out that he has turned down his burger, his fries or any of my left over food. He said that he will not be eating McDonald's for a long time (hopefully never).

Shawn's experiences with food have been pretty exciting. On Wednesday night for dinner, Shawn had what seems to be some kind of a supreme pizza. Not only he did happily eat pizza, it had mushrooms that he did not remove. Last night for dinner he had chicken marsala, with pasta and mushrooms. (!!). I can't believe it!

Last night Shawn earned his official trail nickname. Apparently every thru-hiker earns their trail nickname near the beginning of the trail. And once you're intensely into the hike no one knows you by your real name, only your trail name. Everyone was sitting around the campfire pretty late at night. One guy was holding a long thin object that appeared to be a wooden stick and asked if someone would hold it for him before throwing it down on the ground. Shawn volunteered, walked over to the stick and picked it up. Unfortunately, it was not a stick. It was metal. Shawn now has burns on his left hand. They're on his middle and pointer fingers and his thumb. One of the guys at the hostel is an EMT, so he was able to diagnose the burns as second degree. Shawn said that he's putting ointment on it regularly and icing it. He was thinking about taking another 0-mile day today, but instead has decided to walk 4 miles this afternoon. He now also has the pleasure of being the first person to get injured at this particular hostel this season. His official trail name is "Poker." Originally people were throwing around the idea of "hot poker," but this way he can also try to convince people that he earned the name because he is so good at cards. Apparently this is an excellent story to carry around with his trail name. I just can't believe that he suffered this intense of an injury while sitting comfortably near a hostel at a campfire, and not out roughing it in the middle of the woods.

I should hear from Shawn again tomorrow, and he said his next town will be in about 4 days. Expect an update soon!

- Kelsey