Date: 2006-05-20
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: James Fry (Tagg Run) Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 100, wow! Have I really been out here this long? Today turned out to be a nice day dur to being able to see the sun. I got to talking with the guys again, Seur Hawk and 007, and they are really encouraging me to get rid of a lot of my pack weight to get into the "ultra-lite" catagory as to where they reside. Seur Hawk even let me wear his pack for 6 miles and let me tell you something, I became a believer. Granted, he didn't have any food in it, but that cannot shake the fact that I got light headed when I put it on. It was wonderful! I, for a short moment, understood how people could enjoy hiking.So we crossed the unmarked halfway point today making it the first time that there were more miles behind us rather than ahead. For the sake of tradition, we stopped in at Pine Cove and went for the 1/2 gallon ice cream challenge. For the past 3 days Seur Hawk has been preparing for this moment. You see, the previous record for eating 1/2 gallon of ice cream here at the half-way point was set in 1986 by the time of 4 minutes 26 seconds and Seur Hawk said he could beat that time so I told him if he beat that 20 year old record then I'd buy his ice cream: he finished with a time of 4 minutes 24 seconds - and it was amazing. 007 and I couldn't believe it. I complete the 1/2 gallon challenge in 53 minutes so I passed. I think you have to do it under and hour for it to count. And yes, I was sick for about an hour afterwards. But the craziest part of it all is that Seur Hawk ate another 1/2 gallon after the first and he finished both before I did one.So we all hung out there for 5 hours. We went through my pack with all the stuff I could get rid of. It was quite funny really. I'd pull something out and looks of discust would come over them, "Do you really need two pairs of underwear?" At the end we put everything left in one of their packs and it all fit and felt real good. I probably lost about 10lbs from the stuff they cut out.So we ended up eating dinner at the place and then moved on. The last 7 miles was hell to my feet. These boots are breaking in very, very slowly. My feet are like mush. I don't have blisters, I have areas where the skin was rubbed away. Not too much fun. But God got me to the end. He always has.I prayed today that God would use me as a light while I was out on the trail and today I got another opportunity. At the shelter there was a group, 3 adults and 2 kids, from a local school who were hanging out by the fire. We went over and hung out with them for a while and just enjoyed some laughs. In the middle of conversation the lady asked me why I was hiking the A.T. and I was able to just explain to everyone my search for God. It was great. And I felt confident about sharing, maybe because it was dark out, I always feel a bit safer in the dark, interesting. Another thing that made it a bit easier was they all came from a Christian school and were believers themselves, but baby steps.One thing I noticed today was how Satan will use anything to keep you from God. Like today, I was praying but then was like, "Lets put on the MP3 player so I can worship with song." but it was all just Satan at work. He knew full well that once that music was on I would just zone out. Thankfully, the player stayed in the backpack. Tomorrow is a big hiking day. God I need you big tomorrow. Please heal my body.gorp---1/2 gallon cookies n' cream---brautwerst on a bun x5