Date: 2009-04-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 11.0

(WRITTEN FROM THE TRAIL ON FRIDAY APRIL 10)Dear readers,Ahhh... What a day! Where to begin? After finally having a few hours of sunshine yesterday, our euphoric highs were shot down by thunder, lightening, and hail this morning. It mentally got to me down. The emotional rollercoaster regarding the weather is taking it's toll on me. We had heard a positive forecast and hopes of a nice week, weather-wise. But nice ewather can't seem to stay for more than 12 hours. We haven't had two days of nice ewather in a row since my first week. My rain gear has been worn 14/15 days. We huddled in the shelter waiting for the worst of the storm to pass and finally shoved off into the steady rain. I didn't feel like hiking. I didn't feel like being wet from rain and sweat for hours on end. I didn't want to have squishy water in my shoes all day long. My pack was ridiculously heavy from resupplying in Hot Springs. It was just a horrible morning.I didn't want to quit the trail, and not once did I ever actually wish I was elsewhere (surprisingly). I simply wanted to stay at the first shelter we were planning on reaching 8 miles farther, change into dry long johns, and get into my sleeping bag and call it a day. Our plan was to go to the second shelter of the day, doing 15 miles, but that day I was planning to ditch my hiking buddies to hike my own hike and be done at 8. An extra 7 miles in the cold rain, when you don't want to be doing them, and there's the prospect of hitting a full shelter and having to tent once you arrive can be a LONG couple of hours, and a very grueling 7 miles. I didn't think I could handle that with the mindset I was in. We all have our bad days, and today was mine. Hike your own hike.4 miles in that morning, we hit a road crossing at Allen Gap. That first shelter seemed so far away. We planned to stop briefly at the gap for a snack break. I was hungry, dehydrated, and quite cranky. And then, things looked up. When we got to the road we saw a flyer posted advertising trail magic at a house 300 yards down the road. A warm home, Belgian waffles, chili, and desserts apparently awaited us. And that is when I cried my first tears on the Appalachian Trail.Here I was, having the lowest of low days on the trail, and just like my other horrible day at Newfound Gap in the Smokies, trail angels came to my rescue when I needed them the most. We walked up to a beautiful house owned by Jodie and John Nelson (AT '99 - Hercules and FAL). They greeted us with open arms, giving us a palce to ahng wet gear so it could dry and the offer of clean dry t-shirts to change into if ours were wet. Once seated in their beautiful kitchen, they served us belgian waffles for the "breakfast course", followed by pork stew or spicy black bean chili for "lunch" and gave us our choice of 7 homemade desserts, all served warm with ice cream. It was a touch decision, but I went with the bread pudding made with apricots, pears, and cranberries. And of course stole bites from Saint's brownie sunday and Hermes' blackberry pound cake cobbler.It was heaven. I couldn't have asked for anything more perfect at a more perfect time. As if doing all of that for us wasn't enough, they offered us the opportunity to get driven twenty miles north and spend the next day and a half hiking south back to their house in time for a delicious mexican dinner Saturday night, as well as an opportunity to shower, do laundry, sleep indoors, having a delicious breakfast, then accompany them to their church for Easter sunday (followed by a chinese buffet). Afterwards, they said they would drive us 20 miles north again to continue our hike north bound. Excited at the prospect of a memorable Easter, we jumped at the opportunity. I have never been to a Southern Baptist church before and think it will be an interesting experience. So, that afternoon, we loaded up into the back of John's pickup (it's legal) and he drove us 20 miles north. The sun was shining after the stormy morning, our spirits were high, our bellies were full, and for 20 glorious, primarily downhill miles, we were southbounders. I cried as I left the Nelson's, even though I will be back tomorrow. Their kindness to thru-hikers is increidble and I am amazed by the help and suppot that comes my way when it is most needed. Trail magic is something special. I hope one day I can give back for all it's given me, and it's only been one month. Happy Trails,Sport