Date: 2006-06-10
From: HIGH TOP MTN. HUT

To: BIG MEADOW LODGE
Miles today: 20.4

IN THE RIGHT PLACEEverything was fine until after lunch. We were cruising along at a good pace, feeling confident about finishing in good time. Somewhere around the 14th mile, however, it all started to go from bad to worse. Not that anything in particular happened; it's just that my body started to protest. My feet were screaming at me and my knees were shot by mile 16. The guys hung back for me while I limped along for the last 4 miles. The trail itself was a regular walk in the park; flat, clear, easy trail. Normally, I could run on this terrain. I was in pain and in tears before it was all over.We were trying to make it to the wayside cafe before it closed at 5:30. We planned to make it there for a supper of cheeseburgers and Blackberry milkshakes. We did make it with 15 minutes to spare but the blackberry milkshakes were sold out. Since we smell so bad, we decided we should eat outside on the picnic bench instead of at the tables inside next to all the clean tourists. I wished we had gone inside though, because it's actually been a bit chilly out and very windy for the past couple of days.    After the cheeseburgers, we went over to the camp store to purchase our resupply for the next 5 days. It was the most expensive resupply we've ever had with very limited food choices.   The wayside was actually a mile away from the Lodge/campground so we hit the trail again. My feet and knees were feeling a little better after the break but it was still slow going. We heard that the office to the campground would close at 7:00, so Mudflap had to leave us behind to go reserve a spot. When we got to Big Meadows Lodge where the office was, there were hoards of people everywhere. It was tourist city. We dropped our packs outside and I went in to find Mudflap. I found him at the reservation desk as they were telling him the campground is full. They said there was one room left in the Lodge with two single beds for $80 a night. We'll take it he told the clerk. We hated to spend that much money when we were going to camp but we knew we couldn't hike any further tonight. As we turned to leave the front desk, we saw a flier posted that said Jeff Alt was giving a presentation from 6:30 to 7:30. It was now 7:10 but nothing was going to stop me from going to that presentation. Jeff Alt thru-hiked in 1998 and is the author of "A Walk For Sunshine." Jeff did his hike as a fundraiser for Sunshine Home, which is a home for people with cerebral palsy where his brother lives. His book tells all about his hike in '98 and also includes suggestions in the end about how to do this kind of fundraiser. After reading his book, I followed some of the suggestions to get started with our fundraiser for Brookwood, Fl. I was determined to meet him. After registering for our room, we collected our packs from outside where Sizzle was answering all kinds of questions from curious tourists about hiking the AT. We all went into the conference room where Jeff Alt was speaking without having showered or anything. There was a small crowd there waiting to get their books signed and asking him questions. In the end we did get to meet and speak with him. I thanked him for including a "how to" in his book. If it weren't for that, I don't know how I would have gotten started. He said I could e-mail him with the info about our fundraiser and he would include it on his website. He also gave me some suggestions on how to follow through when we get home. I felt so good after leaving that meeting, I had forgotten all about the aches and pains. It made me feel like I'm right where I'm supposed to be -- out here hiking the AT for a purpose.After quick showers, we went on down to the Tap Room for a bite to eat and a couple of drinks. Dry Run was the acoustical duo playing good 'ol favorites from Simon and Garfunkle, James Taylor and such. We saw several fellow hikers as well: Mule, Bud, G-Walk, Carnivore, and Homeward. This long, hard spirit-breaking day turned out to be one of the best.