Date: 2004-04-09
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Trail to Hurricane Campground (Tenting)
Miles today: 16.6

Peanut Butter, Pop-Tarts and Little Debbies3:30PM - Comer FallsIt was definitely different last night with 10 people in a shelter instead of just 1. The shelter was certainly big enough, being built on two levels. Four people slept downstairs, and six of us were upstairs (plus Annie the dog). We could easily have had twice that number.The one element that has been missing from with thru-hikers so far is the relaxed pace of a chat. When you meet someone on the Trail, you usually have about a 5 minute chat before feeling you should move on. In that time you exchange names, your recent interesting adventures (more often mis-adventures) and where you're headed. There is generally no time for the chat to meander.Last night the chat meandered quite a bit. And whenever thru-hikers get together sooner or later the topic gets around to food. My diet has been pretty regular up to now: a couple packets of oatmeal for breakfast, GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts, ie trail mix) while walking, candy bars and trail bars for lunch, and a freeze-dried entree for dinner.But last night's group had many other things, most notable of which (for me) were peanut butter, pop-tarts and Little Debbies.I have a love-hate relationship with PB (I often crave it but find it hard to eat). I didn't consider it for trail food because it seems too heavy. But when I saw how many people yesterday were carrying it I reconsidered that idea and realized that a pound of peanuts and a pound of PB have essentially the same nutritional content (at least the unsalted, natural variety), and of course weigh the same.I think of pop-tarts as being just empty calories, but of course I need lots of calories out here, and empty ones will do just fine, thank you, if I get the necessary nutrients elsewhere. Little Debbies are unknown in New England (at least to me). They are essentially a cookie sandwich with the filling resembling a marshmallow creme (see 'empty calorie' comment above).The upshot of last night's chat is that in the future I will be looking at more aisles in the grocery store, will definitely try PB, and probably pop-tarts and Little Debbies on my next shopping trip.6:45PM - CampsiteActually, 11 people stayed in the shelter area. Brer Rabbit hiked in late and didn't want to disturb anyone, so slept on a bench outside. He needn't have bothered. The variety of snores and other sounds was enough noise to keep awake any light sleepers amongst us. Actually I found the snores somewhat comforting, more so than the animal ruckus I heard two nights before, and I got at least my usual amount of sleep. (Tonight I am sleeping within 100 yds of a trout stream, and I am already being soothed by its constant ripples of sound.)Today's trail started out flat, which surprised me since I will be headed to Grayson Highlands and 5000' tomorrow. But I continue to meet NOBO thru-hikers. After walking a couple of hours I met Shadow Man who had stayed at Trimpi Shelter 11 mi away. Then came Haiku, and shortly thereafter Pilgrim and Tell It Like It Is together. All had stayed at Trimpi. I knew Pilgrim and Tell It Like It Is from the Tuesday AT 04 chat group I was in in the fall. And I knew they were coming so was looking forward to meeting them in person. I guess expectation always sets you up for a letdown. Because, we only took the usual 5 minutes to exchange the usual information (plus an additional minute to discuss Peak-a-Boo's being off the Trail and when she will be able to return), and then moved on.So my little taste last night of the group dynamic of a pod of thru-hikers traveling together put into perspective the bit of social interaction I have been having so far. I am looking forward to June when I jump back up to Shenandoah and begin traveling with the thru-hiker flow, rather than against it (even though I greatly value the time I have been having traveling in this contrary manner).Before lunch I met a group of three hikers loosely traveling together - Sunshine, Captain Hook and Mello. I am beginning to get used to the lead person in a pod saying that So-and-So is just a few minutes behind, and not actually encounter them until a couple of hours later.The same thing happened in the afternoon, when I met Early Bird (so named because like me he likes to get going at the crack of dawn). He told me that Mr Coffee and Deja Vu were right behind him. An hour later I met a young man who clearly didn't want to chat, so we just grunted 'Good Afternoon' and passed on. Mr Coffee? Deja Vu? Someone else? Another hour later I met a young lady who confirmed that she was Deja Vu, and that the silent type was indeed Mr Coffee. She also mentioned that she had stopped for a while at Comer Falls and had very much enjoyed just relaxing there. (I was doing well with time, and her suggestion sounded so appealing that I stopped there myself, hence the location for the beginning part of this entry. Thanks Deja Vu!) It wasn't until after she and I had parted that I remember someone up the line had asked me to say hello to her. But I somehow had the impression from Early Bird that DV was a man, so didn't remember the earlier request until it was too late. Another example of when expectations can mess you up. Also, I don't remember who asked me to convey this message, but have a hunch it was Brother Man in Pearisburg. Sorry Deja Vu and Brother Man. (It's hard to believe that my arrival in Pearisburg was only 9 days ago. I have travelled so far, seen so many sights and met so many people that that seems like weeks ago. I wonder if the rest of the hike will flash by so fast? (I know that my kids' childhoods went by that fast.))Now, I am going to lie back in my sleeping bag, listen to the trout stream and just watch daylight fade into night (and maybe ponder a bit).See you on down the TrailBTW - I finished the first draft of my 'I Ponder as I Wander' song today. Unfortunately it will only make sense to someone who has had training in mathematical logic AND has read a bit of Krishnamurti. I'm not sure I understand it that well myself. Maybe draft 2. At least it's keeping the squirrels entertained.BTW 2 - How are the puzzlers coming? Take your time. I won't divulge the answers until at least Miss Janet's (see my mail drop list), and maybe not even then.------------------------------ Local access to Pocketmail mobilee-mail now available in Europe, NorthAmerica & Australia http://www.pocketmail.com