Date: 2004-08-08
From: Big Branch 

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: broken clouds

Day #147 "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Martin Luther King, Jr. The rain stopped sometime before midnight. Woke up to a soggy morning, packed wet gear, and was on the trail at 6:45. My morning was one disaster after another. Just before starting out, my water bladder came apart, soaking my pack and backside. The cold water and temperatures in the low 50's instantly woke me up. I was on the trail not 10 minutes when an unannounced bathroom call occurred. I drop the backpack, quickly grab the T.P. and ran into the woods. From the very beginning of today's hike I was having a hard time getting a rhythm in my gait. I kept slipping in the wet mud, on wet moss covered rocks, wet roots and stumbling. All the pressure from slipping and stumbling caused my shin splint to act up and created a disconcerting, strange feeling in my lower left leg. I got a short reprieve from the natural beauty of the crystal clear water of Little Rock Pond. Soon I was back to the ruts of my morning. The physical discomforts started my mental attitude to spiral downward. Finally, just before noon I stopped at Bully Brook, soaked my feet in the cold spring water and had a motivational talk with myself. My biggest ¢oh poor me¢ feeling dealt with the pain and constant discomfort I've had since pushing off Springer Mtn. "Krispy", I said, "almost everyone who has hiked this far is dealing with pains and discomforts. Welcome to the thru-hiker club¢. I knew I could not push a button to delete this morning. I had to take the experience and learn from it. I also decided this afternoon could be a new start with the right attitude. It took a little coaxing but things started to change. There was a spring in my step, I¢d developed a rhythmic pace and I was not tripping, stumbling and slipping as often. I was enjoying my walk again through the mountain forest with a green carpet of ferns. Before ending my day I was surprised by the beauty of Mill River cutting through Clarendon Gorge. Hawk, Catdog, Quest and I decided to eat at a restaurant called the Whistle Stop before going to the shelter. Everyone enjoyed their meal and worked off that over stuffed feeling on the walk back to the trail. Hawk and I reached the trail head when that unannounced bathroom call came over me again. I told Hawk I needed to leave and run for the tree line. Over two field stiles, into the wood line, dropped my backpack and into the trees I flew. This was humorously witnessed by Hawk, Quest and Catdog. My race into the woods reminded me of a book called "Forty Yards to the Wood Line" by Willie Makeit, illustrated by Betty Dont. (Too bad Betty didn¢t have a digital camera; she would have had some great pictures.) The Clarendon Shelter was pleasant with a brook running behind the shelter. There was plenty of room for tents so we all pitched ours. The day would not be complete without a little rain in the form of a light drizzle.As bad as today may sound I can say this: I have not had a bad day on the AT - some days are just better than others.