Ok I am gonna just run through these days quickly and kinda give and overview of how I felt.
4/28
crossing over mt. Rogers
This should have been a very fun day all in all. This area of the trail has wild ponies that are supposed to be quite friendly.. When I crossed the area where the ponies were supposed to reside it was storming more violently than I had seen on the whole trip. High elevation matched with wind, rain, and a thunderstorm crashing over my head sent the ponies seeking shelter somewhere I did not we them. From what I understand, I might be only person in my bubble of hikers that didn't see the ponies. I was absolutely less than pleased about this knowledge. I have every intention to return to the Grayson highlands and then make another trip to mt. Rogers at some point..
4/29
I got up early this day and started booking it to partnership shelter. The day was a complete turnaround from the day before. Clear skies and easy trail all the way. The significance of partnership shelter is it is located right next to Marion, VA. This town is where I would be getting picked up the following day to go to a wedding. The is also one of the only shelters on the trail where you can order a pizza and have it delivered to the shelter. I did not order a pizza myself but since there were plenty of leftovers I got a few pieces. One of my favorite shelters overall on the trail not because of the Pizza but because it has a shower attached to the building. Everyone he go stayed in the shelter that night was definitely in good spirits after pizza and some showers.
4/30
A shuttle runs into Marion for a quarter a ride and after getting into town I just sat at McDonald's and waited on dad to come get me. The ride back wasn't stressful at all, more of a confusing kind of realization. The space we covered in just a couple hours would have taken me something like 2 weeks or more on the time schedule I had been pushing thus far. It was somewhat discouraging, but what gave me optimism and inspiration, was knowing all the things I could write, learn, see during those 2 weeks rather than the 2 hours in my car. Heated seats though... I could always do with some heated seats.
5/1-5/2
I ate and showered to my hearts content.. I got to see some friends and also got to just do nothing. I should have been more adamant about catching up on my writing while I was home with nothing to do, but the ability to just relax and not have to stress about anything took over. I wanted to play soccer one of these nights but I worried if I got hurt that one silly injury would keep me from going back to the trail.
5/3 wedding!!!!
I went to my nieces softball game before the wedding. From the way it was explained to me by my brother, this was probably going to be the only game they won all year. I would like to think that is because of the rowdy support I brought to a little league softball game.
After the game I got all my stuff together at home and got all spiffy looking to go to the wedding. I would like to thank Kari once of my closest friends in Knoxville for inviting me to her brother's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and to Kevin and EB, may you all have each other forever. Then came dancing and too much food. I ate far too much food. One day I will learn.
5/4
Knowing that I was to return to the trail the next day I spent all day just relaxing. I watched tv shows I wanted to catch up on, I ate, I napped. Not a single thing of any real importance got done except for the slow repacking of my bag.
The stress of packing again is much harder when you have had some fun at home and known what you will be returning to for the next few months.
Later in the evening disaster struck. My kitten was run over by a car. The culprits did not stop. I am not one to let things get to me but I loved my cat, so my return was postponed 1 day.
5/5
For those who know me, Luna (my kitten) was my baby. I loved nothing more than to read in my recliner and have her nap on my legs. She was snugly and warm and I still remember getting her for Christmas and bringing her home in my pea coat pocket because that's where she fell asleep and because I didn't have a cage for her. I buried her in my cage and for a split second when I was more than shaken I almost thought of not returning to the trail. I was just mad and upset and I quickly wrote that off as not even a remotely possible option. I spent the rest of hue he day with my brother enjoying the 5th of May as many others do. Enjoying a margarita and then having a cookout with my brother. An incredible feast was prepared by Justin and I once again ate far too much.
5/6
Got a late start as far as getting my ride back to the trail. Justin agreed to drive me and after a few hours in the car I was back at the shelter. I was still somewhat down when I got out of the car and began walking back to the trail, not because I wasn't excited to be there, but because the friends I had made had surely hiked ahead and would be way too far to catch soon. I walked back to partnership shelter thinking I would spend the night there and then get a full day of hiking in the following day. Low and behold, friends I had made far earlier on the the trail had just arrived there. I knew they wouldn't keep pace with me forever but it was nice to arrive back at the trail and see some familiar faces.
I stayed at the shelter again just to catch up the people I had passed on the trail. It was a good night sitting around a campfire, listening to funny stories and shoring our thoughts about the trail in the future.
One thing I had neglected to do while I was home was resupply a few things. Again I hopped on the cheap shuttle back into Marion and after a quick trip to the grocery store I was back on the the trail. It's getting hotter and hotter and rather than hiking in my mountains hard wear or Columbia shorts, I am not hiking in the lightest soccer or athletic shorts I can find. While in Marion a group of guys went to walmart, and the collective group of us all bout matching short shorts of different colors. Initially this I'm sure sounds a little unnecessary and maybe a little ridiculous. But considering how comfortable they are, I am running with it.
5/7-5/15
This point of my trip I had to move a little slower than usual. On the 15th I got picked up in Marion to go to the AT trail days festival. I didn't have than many miles to cover before I would arrive in marion so I took it slow and stopped at a lot of places. I am just gonna go over some of my high points during this time.
I got trail magic one day with a full spread of fruit and vegetables. A much as I wanted a loaded chili dog which they supplied in unnecessary quantities, I ate all kinds of vegetables and fruit thinking the whole time how much better of a befits ion it was.
The day before Mother's Day I came upon a trail magic that was coking a giant pot of tortilla soup, had 3 different kinds of cupcakes, and home made back country apple pie moonshine. I didn't want to be rude so I had a little bit of all 3. Best trail magic thus far. Made the remainder of the day a little less productive, but I wasn't in any hurry after all.
I love Dairy Queen but sadly all of the ones that used to be located near me have shut down. In a town called Bland, I had my first dip cone in years. For those of you who don't know, it is a very simple and delicious concoction consisting of softserve vanilla ice cream dipped down to the cone in chocolate syrup. The syrup hardens making a kind of crunchy outer shell. I ate a big one and it was sheer and utter joy not just because of the taste but because of the good memories that went along with them.
After bland I night hiked after a rather lazy day to Dismal falls. I slept at the top of the waterfall and had the beautiful sounds of the cascading water caress my senses while I slept. I had enough time left over to take a zero at the waterfall before I would get picked up which was perfect considering how beautiful the place was. I spent the day swimming, catching craw dads, napping ing the sun, and reading.
Another hiker and I managed to catch enough big craw dads to have a small boil and that was the pinnacle of the evening.
My last night out on the trail before I got picked up I spent at woods hole hostel. The hostel is probably one of the most interesting I have come across on the trail. Everything cooked at the hostel has been grown or slaughter on the premises. Some of the other food that isn't grown on the premises is traded or bought from and Amish community not far away. The hostel has free yoga every afternoon and meditation every night. The hostel itself has more of a hippy commune vibe rather than a place of business. Everyone helps make dinner, do dishes, or clean the bunkhouse. People that stay multiple days are given chores having to do with the gardens or livestock. It is a strange but wonderful kind of place and i thoroughly enjoyed my attempt at yoga and meditation.
2nd half of my missing adventures coming soon.
