For forty days I hiked the Appalachian Trail with the intention of completing the entire journey from Georgia to Maine in one season. I had a wonderful time filled with many great memories, especially of the people I met along the way. While my body was meeting the daily challenges, I found myself thinking more and more often about whether continuing to walk to Maine was actually the best way for me to spend the next four and a half months. After walking 360 miles, I had gained a lot of what I was seeking and decided that hiking more miles would not be as beneficial to me and my family as having several months at home without the pressures of work. How great it was to see Libba on Mother's Day! Having now gotten off the trail, I am really looking forward to a leisurely summer with time to vacation with her and to get some long neglected chores done. After a few weeks at home, I expect I will doing some section hiking on the AT, some or all of it with Libba. Also as a result of this decision to leave the trail for now, I will be home for our granddaughter Erika’s first birthday party on May 24. What a delight for me that will be.