Steve's group has 10 members at present. Hikers take on trail names that they use when signing in hikers logs along the way. The logs keeps track of their progress and is marker if anyone comes up missing.

My son Steve gave himself the name "Life Traveler". The group has shorten his title to "LT".

"Uncle Tom" which is the name the group bestowed upon him is a through hiker, retired with seven years of psychology study under his belt.

"Strider" Steve thinks he named for his long strides is also veteran section hiker that travels mostly with Uncle Tom.

"Green Hornet" is a snake expert. He sold half of his huge collection of various snakes to finance his trip. He says the best thing to do if you get bit by a snake is nothing at all. (Hmmm)

         
"Ragu", "General Sal", "Tapioca" work together at an Olive Garden in Georgia.

"General Lee" and "Caiso" were roommates in college.

"Romy" is a country guy who always comes up the rear.

The Maine Train has an optimistic attitude and pumps each other up. Steve feels that's what needed to finish the trail. They get up in the morning and say "Yeah, it's snowing, this is great!" Steve told a story about the end of the day of hiking. They stopped and were huddled in a circle freezing, blowing in their hands, not saying a word. The wind was blowing hard and sleeting, snow covered the ground, everyone dreaded putting up their tents because their hands were cold. They were hunkered giving each other the look "How can this get any worse". Then the silence ended as they burst out laughing. Steve followed his story by the comment coming from under his breath "just good times".

Steve says he is the youngest and the only one who hasn't attended college. He looked puzzled as he said "I think of myself as a young man, they think of me as a boy. I tell them I'm a young man."

Steve is proud that everyone in his group thinks of him as the fire starter. He can light a fire with one square of toilet paper and has set goals to light a fire with just sticks. O.k. entertainment is limited up there.    

Steve called last night and said Uncle Tom, Strider and him were ahead of the Train. They were hitting icy weather so decided to hit Gatlinburg after all. Gatlinburg is the closest town to me along the Appalachian Trail. I finally met Uncle Tom and Strider last night when I picked Steve up. I brought Steve home for 2 nights where he recharged, repacked and visited his friends. Steve was very excited to see everyone. His spirit was soaring high as he related fascinating tales about his experience and some of the characters he has ran into along the way.

Steve said before he like the Dutch setting in the town Helen. Food rations were slim so he had to make a temporary departure from his friends to go into town. Steve got his first hitch to the town. The visitor center had a free phone where he called the local hotel and bargained the room rate from $70 to $30. Being on the trail for over a week without a bath Steve was dirty and as he put it "really smelly". He said the town people thought he was homeless. They shunned him, wouldn't look at him and a mother pulled her child away as he walked by. A man came up to him and gave him a twenty dollar bill. He went to his room and put his things up but since he was starving decided he wanted to eat. The only pieces of clothing that did not smell and were halfway clean were his long john top and underwear. So Steve put on, in his mind, his only decent attire and decided to get something to eat.

Someone recommended a little pizza shack down the road. The were known for selling huge delicious croissants. Come to find out the restaurant was ran by two gay guys. When Steve walked in the two told Steve "Any good lookin young man walks in here only wearing his underwear, he'll get anything he wants to eat for free." So Steve ate for free as the two owners laughed and joked about drag queens and other things from the wild side. Steve said he slipped a ten in a cup when he left but the guy came after him gave his money back and told him "We don't do things like that around here". (LOL, Go figure) 

Also, Steve has met an owner of a Fortune 500 company the buys and sell corporations including Hersey's, funny that's the only corps. I remember as he recalled their talks to me. They had long talks about business. The millionaire claims he tired of Corporate America and wants out. 

I asked Steve if he has learned anything new. Steve said " I'm beginning to understand the best experience I have is not the places I go or things I see but is with the people I meet."

Steve to tell everyone not to worry about him. He hopes everybody is o.k. and says "Hi" to everyone especially Ilissa.