Date: 2013-05-31
From: Hurricane Mtn Shelter, VA

To: Jenkins Shelter, VA
Miles today: 64.3

I'm really being bad with my updates. I do get calls from Fahmah when he can call, but news isn't always good. When the hikers got in to Troutdale area, they were treated with some awesome trail magic. They were fed a great feed of hot dogs and beans and deep fried oreos!! Klip said they were delicious. Even Fahmah liked them. They were able to sleep on the lawn over night and then even fed a great breakfast to send them off. They made the mistake of staying at Partnership Shelter where they ordered pizzas for supper, but were joined later (with an emphasis of LATER) by more hikers who were still up and talking and burning a fire that sent smoke right through the eaves into Fahmah's breathing space. He got up and called me to complain, went back to bed and finally had to remind the young hikers that "hiker's midnight" is 9:00 and they were way past that! It was time to quiet down! He's going to get a reputation! Fahmah had a mail drop waiting at the Red Barn Restaurant in Grosclose. When they got in there on a Sunday, they were closed so they had to stay at the tacky old Relax Inn till Monday to pick it up. While we were talking that evening, I asked to be reassured that he had his medication. He said NO, he only had enough through that day! I remembered him holding up a container in Abingdon, saying he was all set for 2 weeks so I had not sent him a resupply of meds. And Monday was Memorial Day! On Tuesday a.m. I scrambled to the nearest UPS (local Staples Store) and had to pay $51.84 for next day delivery of his pills. He was stuck there to wait for the delivery, hoping it would be early on Wed a.m. On Tuesday Klip took off heading north. Fahmah got a shuttle to a trail head 12 miles north and hiked back south just to get some miles in. Wednesday the pill delivery arrived around 1:30 in the p.m. Thanks to the gentleman at the Relax Inn, he patiently tracked the package right thru delivery and got Fahmah back on the trail where he had hiked from the previous day. Last night Fahmah and Klip both stayed at Chestnut Knob shelter (Klip waited there for him) and they are back together again, hiking toward Bland, where his next drop will be waiting. They will stay at a campsite tonight and head in to Bland tomorrow.They have met some nice hikers along the way. One was a nice young guy (happened to be one of the couple that had come in to a shelter late that he had reminded to be quiet a long ways back) Fahmah was mad at him at the time, but it turns out he is a real nice kid. Of course Fahmah doesn't remember his name. Another hiker he met and had dinner with one night and then lunch on the trail the day he slacked, was Brad, trail name Ringmaster. He is a guy younger than Tony, only 71, and has a blog on blogspot. He is an amazingly detailed writer and listener. He tells the story of all the hikers he meets. Tony really enjoyed his visits with him. I enjoyed his blog. They also had breakfast with Steamer (pink shirt for breast cancer)again but he must have hiked on because they didn't see him again after that. Life is never dull! Will update again soon. Regina Brett's lessons to live life by #16: "Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying"Life is good, God is Great!Happy birthday today to Susie!! A beautiful daughter and and great, busy mother! Love you much.