Well not really.
930am: time flight was supposed to depart.
1130am: my plane sat on the tarmac for 2 hours due to bad weather in Atlanta. We pulled up back to the gate and de-planed since a lot of people would miss their connecting flights. So naturally I do what anyone would do in this situation, go chill at the airport bar which, luckily, was directly in front of the gate.
130pm: Just got word that the flight is delayed until 330pm. Atlanta Airport was completely shut down from the storms and a tornado warning. I'm pretty happy that I didn't book my flight for yesterday and would have been starting the trail today during that mess. The Hiker Hostel has a 3pm and 6pm shuttle but at this rate even making the latter will be a rush. I can see my work building from my seat at the bar, hello NG folks!
630pm: FINALLY LANDED. Nothing like a 7 hour delay to start things off. All of the runways and gates were a parking lot full of planes. I know ATL is one of the biggest airports but toss on 6 hours of delayed flights and you got a madhouse. The hostel said they have a 730pm shuttle and I might miss that too. Hurry up baggage claim.
707pm: Hopped on the MARTA red line with 1 minute to spare. This line heads clear across the city to North Springs where I will rendezvous with the shuttle...hopefully. I got a bunch of quizzical stares as I unpacked my box containing my trekking poles, knife, and rain tarp with its tent stakes jangling together.
8pm: Had to call Mike and have him ask the shuttle driver to wait for me. Originally I was going to have 2 hours to kill before the shuttle arrived but I instead had to rush up here without a chance to grab food. Good thing I have 3.5 days rations but will only take 3 days to reach the first resupply point.
920pm: just ordered a pizza with another thru Hiker, Alex, who was on the shuttle and also had a 12 hour day of travel. This place has an amazing Thru Hiker special where they pick you up, provide lodging for the night, breakfast, and a ride to the trail in the morning. There is also a huge pantry of free gear and food people have left behind so i plan to paw through that after dinner.
It's going to rain tomorrow but I don't care. I'm gonna start at the approach trail and get this show on the road!