Date: 2003-07-02
From: Bearfence Hut

To: Big Meadows
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today did not go as planned...what else is new, though? You'd think that I'd learn not to plan and just go with the flow of the day. I suppose that at least some sort of base planning must exist, though, or I'd probably never get anywhere. Randy, Gerri and I had decided to shoot for 17 miles, with a stop for lunch at Big Meadows, one of the lodges in SNP. I had woken up REALLY early...before 6:00...as I had to use the privy. I passed by the shelter...Mover and Sticky Wicket, a south bounder were already up. Ahead of me on the path to the privy was a deer. She looked at me as if to say "What? What do you want?" I explained to her that I really needed to get past her, but she wasn't having any of it, so I just walked toward her and she took off. You'd think they live here, or something. I went back to my tent, and was settling back into bag, when I heard it. Starting so gently...rain. We had heard that rain was on the way, but supposedly not till tonight. Over th!e next hour the rain grew steadily into a downpour (can you say "Tropical Depression Bill"?). I was tented near Randy, and I knew that he hadn't gotten up yet, so I figured I could go back to sleep for a bit. I woke up about an hour later when Gerri called to him (no response), and started packing stuff up. I was getting some water in my tent, anyway, and I didn't want my things to get any wetter than I knew they would while hiking. I ate breakfast, Randy managed to emerge from his tent, and we all finally got ready to go. I have to tell you, it's very difficult to get yourself psyched up to hike in the rain when you and your things are dry. The only thing more difficult is leaving from a dry, warm motel. The hike was uneventful...it stopped raining for awhile, but began again in earnest when we approached Big Meadows. Gerri and I saw numerous deer...and, of course, had conversations with them all. All the bucks that we have seen have antlers in various stages of g!rowth, all still in velvet. All the deer that we've met seem so elegant and graceful (despite the occasional attitude). We arrived, absolutely drenched, at Big Meadows, and headed to the dining room. We were all freezing, despite the fact that the temperature was about 60. All three of us took one look at the menu and knew it was a "one of each" type of day. We each ordered one appetizer, one soup, one salad and one entree. Even with the warm food (which we hooverized), we still couldn't seem to warm up. We had made an agreement that we would try to get accomodations at Skyland, the next lodge in the park, which was another 8 miles down the Trail. At least that way, we'd be warm and dry for the night. Gerri had discovered a fire in the main sitting area, and was warming herself while Randy checked about Skyland. I was talking with her, and she said she wouldn't mind just staying here. I have to admit, I jumped at this...I just couldn't seem to get warm, and the prospect of going back out for another 8 miles in the driving rain was n!ot anything I was looking forward to. I went back to the lobby and told Randy. We were able to get a room, so we cancelled the reservations for Skyland. We all took showers and did some laundry. Deacon Blues showed up, with his friend who he'd been visiting. He's going to join Deacon Blues on his hike! They also had decided to call it a day here, though. We had a bit of dinner in the taproom, then Gerri went to bed. Randy and I stayed to listen to the live entertainment, which was pretty good, despite a very lackluster crowd and the guest appearance of a stray bat. It took over the show for awhile, divebombing guests and entertainer alike (bringing back baaaaaad childhood memories for me!). The "bat squad" in the form of two park rangers showed up, but they didn't do much. Randy and a gentleman from England opened two doors to the outside terrace, and one ranger stood outside shining a flashlight...what for, I'll never figure out. Apparently she thought this wou!ld draw the bat out (I guess she never heard the phrase "blind as a bat"). Our waitress, Debbie, swatted at it with a menu, which also wasn't very effective. The bat finally just clung to a wall, probably tired from flying around the room for so long. We went over to look at it when we were leaving, and it jumped a bit at the sound of my voice...I beat a hasty retreat. We all went to bed, but spent the next hour or so talking and laughing about the evening, as well as our times out here on the Trail. Life is good... :)