I spent the last 24 hours with Judy, near the Appalachian Trail. I left home about 11:30 and picked her up at about 1:30 in the little town of Helen, a tourist town that has been developed into a German theme. We had planned this rendevous for awhile - she had originally planned by this weekend to be right outside the town where Andrew is helping with the music at a church, but they didn't get quite that far. Her friend Pam left then to go back to her car at the beginning of the trail, and then back to Illinois.
We had planned to find a hotel in the town of Clayton for Saturday night, but a family in the church has a garage apartment that they offer to guests of the church, missionaries, etc. - and they offered it to us when they heard we were coming. It was a beautiful and very comfortable place. The hosts had thought of everything.
We went to a local cafe while her clothes were getting clean at a laundromat, then came back to the apartment and chilled for the evening. Oh, and at the cafe, Judy got her hamburger!!!
We went to the church for the Sunday a.m. service, and then afterward ate at a church potluck that was a fundraiser for the teenagers' camp fund. Fried chicken, two kinds of potatoes, green beans, slaw, and about five kinds of vegetable casseroles - I'd say Judy got a pretty good meal before going back on the trail.
Andrew, me, Andrew's fiance Teah, and Judy, right before we pulled out from the church.
I took Judy back to Helen, where she had a ride with a park ranger set up to get her back to the top of the mountain where she had left the trail. Then I made the hour and a half ride back home. Just got a text from her - she has arrived at the shelter for the night. It was so good to be with her. And all you folks back home - she looks good and is eager to get some miles under her belt in the next week. The weather is supposed to be nice this week. She is in our thoughts and prayers!!
