Date: 2013-03-25
From: Stecoah Gap - NC Hwy. 143 to Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

"I believe that life is a journey towards God, and that no one has the right to insist that you go a certain road." Pat Buckley I found the above quote today. No one is insisting that I take a certain road; it seems I'm in a time of discernment. I thought my pilgrimage on the Appalachian Trail ended a few days ago when my husband met me at Stecoah Gap, NC/Hwy. 143 but perhaps it's just an R&R (rest and recover)stop at home. The timing is perfect in that I'm avoiding some very nasty weather if I had remained on the trail. It is perfect for another reason as well. I'm at home in time to attend Holy Week services at St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church and Easter Sunday Mass. On the trail I had been trying to figure out if I could do the miles to get to Newfound Gap Rd. in time for my husband to pick me up and take me into Gatlinburg for Easter Sunday Mass. What a gift to be home, warm, comfortable and safe from the elements but more importantly to be able to receive Jesus in the Eucharist every day this week and to celebrate Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday with my family at St. Philip Benizi.The pic above was taken last night. That's my left ankle. I remembered the massage the physical therapist did on my ankle many months ago and so last night I massaged it, iced it, prayed for it and went to bed. This morning it looks closer to normal. I can almost see my ankle bones. It has not been painful. The plantar fascia on my right foot is better today too. I have it taped and can walk a little more comfortably. I went to Mass this morning to give thanks to God for protecting me on the journey thus far. The falls/injuries could have been much worse. I'm wondering if perhaps He allowed the falls that day on the trail to get me back home, out of the bitter cold and stormy weather and to attend Holy Week services. He knows I can be very stubborn and once I set out on a goal, it's difficult to stop until I have completed it.Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me; don't stop, please. Thank you to all who have offered words of encouragement. Both mean so very much to me. A call came on my cell phone last night from an area code I didn't recognize. I answered it and a voice said "PrayerWalker, this is Guard." My heart skipped a beat because I didn't think I would ever again hear anyone call me by my trail name, PrayerWalker; it was sweet music to my ears. Guard is a young man from North Carolina I met on the trail. He called to say he had heard I was off the trail and he was sorry to hear that news. I had loaned him my phone because he thought he had lost his phone so I guess he got my number from a family member's phone when he returned home. He's taking a week off too so I may see him and Freight Train (his hiking buddy) on down the trail. What a surprise to get that call while I was icing my ankle. Hermes, Carly, Guard and I had dinner at the NOC the night before I spent what I thought was my final night on the AT at Locust Cove Gap. Hermes spent the same night at Locust Cove Gap and I guess caught up with Guard the next day and gave him the news. It's amazing to me that the trail provides a family for those who hike. We are all out there together no matter the agility, age, background or family of origin. It was so heart warming to be included in that family and I miss y'all !I'm praying for those on the AT. I hope they can find shelter from this weather and remain safe and healthy to hike on when the weather is more amenable. I'm looking forward to returning to the trail and resuming my pilgrimage when my ankle and foot recover. There's still time for me to reach Katahdin if the Lord permits ...