Date: 2003-06-29
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: 1 mile past Pole Steeple
Miles today: 20.9

CHECK OUT THE NEW PHOTOS! (Dated 6/2/03)I hiked out with Max Power. This guy just completely cracks me up. He has perfect army posture. He looks like the missing half of an M16. Built like missile launcher and just waiting for his next orders to kill. He stares blankly into space but I know he is running through his head how to take, disassemble, and reassemble a grenade launcher. "¢¦Remove safety pin, pull out firing mechanism, remove barrel¢¦¢ I told him a joke. He robotically looks up at me, blinks intentionally, flashes a quick smile to acknowledge my joke, and returns to his deep thought, "¢¦pull firing pin, remove stock¢¦" Today I am at the halfway point. I wanted to go home yesterday, but I just had to get here. There are many challenges that people try while on the trail, including hiking 4 states in one day, hiking 33 miles into Damascus in one day, and hiking the entire state of Virginia in 30 days. All these are tiny compared to the half-gallon challenge.   A challenge so hard few dare to try and much less actually succeed. At the halfway point, there is a store that sells ice cream and thru-hikers try to eat a half-gallon in one sitting. Max Power and I are true American heroes and are quite worthy of such a task. He chose the peanut butter cup, which was not the best choice. I wanted diversity, so I got 2 pints of peanut butter cup, one of chocolate chip mint, and one of cookies and cream. Max was waffling right away; a very sad day for the free world. I, on the other hand, have been training for this all of my life. 1 hour and 10 minutes later, I reached the highest point of my life. 3,360 calories and over a pound of fat for no damn reason. I earned my wooden ice cream spoon with ¢half gallon club¢ cheaply stamped on it with a rubber stamp. I decided not to go swimming immediately afterwards. I have no idea why I kept walking today. I don't need to make any serious miles at all. Finally, I said, ¢Enough,¢ and set up my hammock. I took off my socks to find my feet in really bad shape. The blisters are bleeding and the blood is drying my socks to my sores. I have to peel them off slowly. For the most part, they are numb. I am concerned about my little toe on my left foot. I had a band-aid on it but it came off. It is all puffy and looks white. I'm calling it quits for a week or so. I was going to hike 4 more days but I think it is better if I let my feet heal. Tomorrow I'm going to start calling people until I find someone to pick me up. I may do a few hikes to stay in shape and keep moving forward but I can't keep pushing like this until I get healthy again. I did the first half in 2 months and 29 days. I have plenty of time. I'm not hiking with anyone in particular, so it is rest time. No matter what, I'm hiking to the next phone and getting my butt home. If I can't reach anyone, I'm going to hitch hike. Ahhh, home. I haven't seen my home in 3 months. It seems foolish to be so close and not at least visit it. Tomorrow at this time I will be on my couch with my cat on my lap. Good night. My belly hurts - I can't believe I ate a half-gallon.      Peace,DutchI'm going where the climate suits my clothes.