[pct-l] Addessing mail, ID's

[radney@ix.netcom.com]

It's almost that time for us -- we are both not working now, running around 
getting family seen, paying bills, packing and mailing our food/drift boxes, 
going over clothes and gear -- one more time (think we are up to 1,000+ 
now), left all the instructions for family, will have a get together on 
Sunday and start closing up home and heading for BWI on Tuesday.

Laurel brought up some good points about mailing packages and cards to us on 
the trail. The following is my response to her about how the letters, 
packages, etc. should be addressed to make sure we will receive what they 
are sending;   


Each piece of mail should be "... addressed with the persons full name, "c/o 
General Delivery," the town, state & zip code.  Somewhere on the letter, 
card, box,etc., should be written "Hold for PCT Hiker --ETA (Estimated Time 
of Arrival) -- the date they plan on being in that town to pick up their 
mail.  The PO will usually hold mail for 30 days, but there are 
exceptions.....wonder of all wonders, we received our food drop box 
yesterday from Skykomish that we had sent to them last year!  Guess they are  
getting ready to receive all boxes the '99 horde of hikers and doing some 
spring cleaning!   

>Can we address your packages to "Pat & Walt "Happy trails couple"?  Will 
you be asking for your packages that way?

You had better addresses the package "Walt or Pat Radney"  They won't 
understand the trail nickname --.  If you addresses it "Walt and Pat 
Radney", we both have to show our ID's in order to pick up the package -- 
maybe not cards or letters, but packages for sure!  The PO is very 
particular about this, I think it is a Federal Law.  Most town folks are 
familiar to them but we are not!  Having us come through their small towns 
does cause an extra burden on them and we need to do our part to create as 
few problems as possible for the hikers following in furture years .

YES, for packages they usually as for a photo ID -- that usually means a 
current drivers license.  You will also be able to get into/out of Canada at 
Manning Park with your license -- very usefully even though we aren't doing 
any automobiling!  We had a strange feeling riding around in a car for the 
first time after we had walked so long -- feet still hurt though!

 -- thanks to each of you before hand for caring about the class of '99 -- 
it will be so great to hear from you.  Please don't forget to give us YOUR 
address too so we can let you know we received your mail and to let you know 
how we are doing.  

Spoke with Donna Saufley today -- told her to expect some early hikers.  She 
said they will be ready and are eagerly looking forward to seeing each of 
us.  She and Jeff are going to put a sign up before the tunnel into town and 
Vasquez Rocks with information on how to contact them. Donna said the store 
is getting stocked up for us -- Richard and Kelly have a full PO in there 
now -- still no laundromat though!

See you on the PCT!

Pat -- HTC

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