Date: 2005-05-31
From: Marble Spring Camp site

To: Buena Vista
Miles today: 14.0

I awoke early and ready for a quick, hard hike. The light, food deficient pack and knowledge that the day's hike would end up in a motel room in Buena Vista gave me all the motivation I needed. I was gone by 7:10 while Hareball was still fiddling with her gear. The morning carried the cool of last nights rain and a little fog lingered, staying with as I churned up Bluff Mountain, the day's first assault. I paused for a moment at the Ottie Cline Memorial, a tribute to a small boy who had wandered from home and died some years before. I recall an eclectic collection of odds and ends placed atop the granite marker by past hikers to help poor Ottie in his new life. There was candy, a stuffed animal, an assortment of coins and some sketches. I had no coins in my pocket so I left some matches so he could light his way in his new world. Hareball showed up shortly thereafter (her speed and tenacity are truly amazing) and I chatted with her a moment before taking off.As I left I noted the spur trail going off to the right and down to the shelter. I continued straight ahead. Soon I was met by a hiker from a few weeks earlier, Doc Gnarly. He was heading south , more than anxious to get to town because Doc, famous for his cigarette consumption was out of smokes. Thinking the morning fog had gotten him mixed up I joked with him about his directional skills. He looked completely baffled at what I said, but accepted it as truth and turned with me to head north on the AT. Unfortunately we soon came to the shelter and then we were both confused. We had no choice but to retrace our steps back to poor Ottie's memorial. Upon regaining our former position we quickly figured out that the Appalachian Trail turned to the right and the spur was straight ahead. It was too much for poor Doc and he began wildly shaking his hiking poles at me in what I can only hope was mock anger. Nonetheless, you don't mess with a man and his addictions.Once again on track I set a pace that surprised both me and Doc. He was known to be a relatively slow hiker and one who favors long breaks...unless of course he's out of smokes or food and then he is on a "mission". No one passes Doc Gnarly when he's headed for cigarettes, but on this day it's exactly what I did. I churned by him and kept on going. Loose and easy with my quick pace I burned up and down hills and mountains. Doc kept close but couldn't close the gap, asking if I minded if he kept close and used me as a pace setter. Being flattered and completely unused to being ahead of anyone (ever!) I hollered my assent and continued on. In a short while the trail flattened and I began to run, ignoring all that hogwash I previously said about not running on the trail for a good deal of time. I put enough distance between us that soon I could no longer hear the clanging of his hiking poles. I continued to run and gloat, pausing only occasionallly to listen for people coming from behind (did I ever tell you I'm definitely Type A?). After 7 miles or so of this nonsense I slowed to my normal Nimblefoot gait and took things easy since I realized I would now get to town at least an hour before my planned time. You just can't trust hikers though and it wasn't long before Doc Gnarly came upon me and I told him that if he maintained his current pace he should be at the road by 2:30. Shortly thereafter Hareball appeared and we continued together, stopping at Pedlar Lake Rd for a snack break. We said our goodbyes and I steamed toward Buena Vista and the unknown. As I began climbing the next hill I heard a truck pull up and a couple invited her to their home for lunch. Trail magic! Good for her. I continued on and made it to the road just in time to see Doc Gnarly standing tall with his thumb out trying to hitch a ride. Spotting me he waved for me to come over and proudly told me he had made it to the road at exactly 2:30. From a few years of middle distance running I've developed a sense of my own pace that allowed me to know pretty much how long it would take me to run from a to b. However, this is the first time it ever worked with someone else. Kinda funny.