Date: 2003-06-20
From: Viewpoint on AT 

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter 
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: light rain

Aloha! "Sitting by the side of the road..." (lyrics changed at will)   Rain for going to bed by and rain for waking up by. Rain, rain, rain. There will be no draught for this part of the country this year that's for sure. Monya swears it's because she's out here hiking. All during 2001 when everyone was complaining of no water Monya was constantly being rained on. It seems her legacy continues.   Our day was spent leisurely hiking the six miles to the road where Monya would end her hike. We did little more than chat about this and that through our limited remaining time. At our rainy lunch spot we met three more new-to-me hikers: Cadence, Cliffwalker and Mutton. Cadence has a thru-hiking story worse than mine.   It seems that this is her third attempt. Her first attempt in 2001 was thwarted at the Canadian/US border when the US decided that she was really coming in to find a job. Not the case but she was sent packing anyway. Her second attempt was last year when she did begin her hike only to break her foot in Virginia. She sat and mended and immediately headed back to the trail only to rebreak it ending that attempt. (Sound like anyone else you know?) Her third attempt is the current one. Beginning again from Springer Mountain she has made it this far and the worst thing to happen is her weight loss. She's gone from 140 to 125. She's quite slim and carrying a big pack. It looks like she may very well make it this time. (Again, sound like anyone you know? Except the quite slim part.)   We were at the road long before I wanted us to be. We made ourselves comfortable on the shoulder of the road and watched the traffic go by. We learned quickly that the local police are the probably the ones most responsible for the accidents in the area. Interesting the way they don't hesitate to just stop in the middle of the lane on a hill. Oncoming and following traffic be damned!   Monya's ride arrived early and with a hug and a wave we went our separate ways. It goes without saying that I was rather sad watching her go. It was wonderful to hike along with Monya again. She is a most awesome and inspirational woman.   With her departure the sky became menacing looking. I decided that it was time to put the feet to the path in a rapid procession. It's surprising how fast I got here. Four plus miles in 1.5 hours. That's moving for me. Admittedly the terrain wasn't terrible but that's beside the point. Had I known it was going to take so little time to get here I would have joined Monya and her friend for that offered hamburger. Oh well, next time. (Like there'll be a next time!)   On my dash to the shelter I passed Nuclear Lake. This is the former site of a nuclear-research facility that was shut down in 1972. In the early 1990s the site was restored allowing the Trail to be rerouted nearer to the shore. It was certainly calling me for a quick dip but something about being nuclear related kept me dressed and hiking on. There will be other less "active" lakes somewhere down the trail.   Joining me in the shelter this evening are the previously introduced Cadence and two young men known as The Gambler and Ben. These two are quite entertaining. Sadly, The Gambler is going to get hurt if he calls me maam again. I'm not old enough to be a maam. Those folks are any one my parents age. Youth of today! No respect!Ahhh... there it is... that sound... the one I hear nightly around this time... rain. Once again I had faith that it would arrive. It's only missed four or five days since I've been out here so the odds were in its favor. It's a lovely drumming sound on the tin shelter roof. Perfect for sleeping. I guess I should do just that. It has been a long day and I am rather tired. So with that I'll say goodnight and wish you a restful sleep. I believe with the rain's help I'll have the same. Ahhh...BSandTs: couldn't see them through the rain if I had any.AandPs: to nice a day.MandGs: Monya's gone home...waah!Critter count: too many Efts to count. Everything else had the sense to stay home.