I was a bit apprehensive going into the Smokies. I had met a guy with a Christian hiking shirt at breakfast the day we left. He told me he helps organize hiking for 100 Christian men and will be getting off the trail soon. We didn’t get to talk much but I had seen him the day before and wondered if he could be a good guy to hike with. Immediately I could tell he was very dynamic and very committed.
After breakfast we hiked out past the Fontana Hilton, a very nice shelter and across the dam built by the conservation corps. Very impressive. Then up, and up some more. the day was nice, sunshine, cool, flowers starting to bud and blossom. We ended up some 15 miles later at a Spence Field shelter. By a smoldering fire Sam I Am, a female beautician from Colorado was telling stories about her first AT hike. She has a need to fill any silence with anything but was entertaining, nevertheless. It was starting to get cloudy and was expected to rain the next day so against my better judgment, I stayed in the shelter. I told the guy next to me if I snore too loud to poke me. He did. I didn’t even think my eyes were shut when he hit me the first time. The second time I told, him, “Al right, THAT’S IT”. I stayed awake as long as I could and it seemed like I didn’t sleep at all.
Andy M Davidson 
I have to laugh at the snoring stories. Zzzzzzzzzzz
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Yea! We know about the snoring! But because we like you we don’t punch you as often as we would like too! God Bless you brother, hope all is well with you. You have met some of the most interesting people. Maybe your are an “people magnet” as opposed to a chick magnet! Brother biker David
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You should have stayed awake until he was sleeping, then poked him and told him he was snoring.
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Did you get a haircut at least?
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No haircut no shave
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A friend of mine taped a presentation I did back in the Fall and recently edited it so I could post it on Youtube.com. After going to the website, just search for Andy Davidson thru hiking thru life and you should get the 3 parts. The total presentation lasts about an hour. Hopefully it will make you laugh and think. Since I last wrote, I have to say I really miss the trail and miss conversing with y’all even more. I’ve been working on another project which I hope to announce in the near future. Until then I have dreams of jumping in the truck with Lor and Belle (our Springer Spaniel) and back packing out West this summer. (Just don’t tell my employer).
Take care, “Phantom”
I can’t thank you enough for all the support. Feel free to spread the word and I apologize to some of you who may be getting this notice as a repeat.
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