07/03/2026
Bluebirds are joyously flitting in the Dancing Deer Forest, where I happily dwell 50-ish miles south of the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia. Thunder is thumping on the horizon but it's sunny & hot on the Deck of Delight.
Bathed Maxine in the car wash today. It's safely nestled in the garage, waiting for our next trip up/down our favorite dirt roads to meet, greet & treat hikers. As we did a few days ago.
Our first stop was at Woody Gap. Pulled in and found a half-dozen hikers who were a bit dirty but not yet "hiker ripe." In my best Cash Cab impersonation (pitiful) I asked if they could help me find the Appaloosa Trail. Didn't fool them for a minute.
Everybody was happy to score water they didn't have to filter or carry. They had just hiked up a gorgeous ridge from Gooch Gap below. Not mountain climbing ... but a stiff walk uphill.
They were beginning to learn the value of a cool drink of water in a new way since beginning their trek through 14 northern states (hopefully) after starting 20 miles away at Springer Mtn.
Living & walking in the woods teaches you to appreciate little things that were unnoticed before ... a warm wind, a cool breeze, the sounds of wildlife, the change of seasons, and omens of impending storms.
Met a gentleman hiking to raise money for college scholarships and guys out to see how far they could go. Along with a man who showed an unusual appreciation for the treats in Maxine's Goodie Bins; it was as if we were his pit crew for a momentary pause, fueling up in order to get back on the Trail ... to finish his current course, before beginning again somewhere else. Always on one Trail or another. (But I could be wrong.)
They all happily posed with Maxine and joyously waved goodbye as we took the long way to where they had just been: Gooch Gap.
Shared a couple of bottles of water & sweet treats there. Captured the moment in a photo or two, and headed through the paradise that is the forest in North Georgia to Horse Gap.
Pulled in to find (ready?) hikers! And the fun began...
They helped me set up a few chairs for the Divine Appointments who had not yet appeared, while providing a soft spot for themselves.
At that point it was "all about them." It's never "all about posting stuff on Facebook." Yes, I've been in one form of media or another for most of my bazillion years. I communicate by nature. I love sharing stories ... but when I am present with hikers, I either forget or don't remember all that happened. It's more about being there than recounting it afterwards.
So, I take their pictures with Maxine and tell them to add "dot.com" to Maxine's license plate to find their photos here, when I finally make the time to try to recollect a fraction of the fun that occurred interpersonally along the Appalachian Trail.
[I'll make you a deal. About once a week I appear at Horse Gap. You're welcome to go there, wait for me to show up and transcribe all that transpires. I'll just pass out the goodies, tell tall tales, give bad directions and assure hikers that bears won't eat them, snakes won't kill them and they won't get into trouble if they don't go looking for trouble. Deal?]
Ooooh! This was a fun part!
Miss Janet Hensley stopped by to shuttle a semi-wounded hiker to zero down below. Before they drove off, she held court. Shared priceless wisdom about gear, struggles, and her many years blessing hikers, before she reached into the Bounce Box and presented Slow Poke with a snazzy set of hiking poles she just happened to have ... that he just happened to need. Trail magic, from an icon.
And therein lies a tale ...
Janet crossed paths with Mousetrap, a lady who packed her trekking poles, not the poles she needed to set up her tent. Mousetrap kindly donated her trekking poles to Miss Janet to pass along to someone in need. For free. And Janet gave her a tent to use until her tent poles could be fetched.
And who did I meet at Gooch Gap on my way home? Yup, Mousetrap, who was delighted to hear who was blessed by her kindness and generosity.
The day ended where it began (five?) hours before at Woody Gap.
Spied a strangely familiar hiker, but I just couldn't remember where or when we met. Then he said, "We meet again!"
Turns out he was one of the guys from Gooch Gap earlier in the day. Then, I spoke words that I never expected to utter:
"Oh! I didn't recognize you with your clothes on!"
(May I never speak them again.)
Maxine & I arrived back at the Dancing Deer Forest just as the sun was setting on another fine day of adventure, bopping through the wilds to meet up with the Divine Appointments God had long-since arranged.
