Date: 2008-05-04
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Davis Path Shelter
Miles today: 14.3

Writing this from a restaurant in Marion, VA. Everyone got up super early today...I came down at 6:30am and everyone (almost) was gone.Last night was pretty horrible, the mice were all over the second floor of the shelter and were acrually running over my sleeping bag at night. I was waking up constantly.I walked to the visitor's center (right by the shelter) and used the phone to call home. I'm having my parents send me a chlorine water treatment because my SteriPen (UV water treatment) died again yesterday and the batteries for it are about $20. I'd rather use chlorine drops at this point rather than continue to carry and depend on an electronic device for treating water.I went to the road and got a hitch in about 10 minutes (there weren't many cars) from a 70 year old volunteer who maintains "the campsite." Not sure if he meant the shelter I just stayed in or not. He said he was talking to a friend about thru-hiking next year. I said I've met people his age on the trail. I have to admit though, he had a lot of weight to lose. He said the town of Marion is shrinking because the older people are resistant to change and the younger people are moving elsewhere. I don't see any young people here - everyone seems to be old. This is a small little southern town, I'm getting quite a few looks in here. This is the first town I've been to, I think, that is not listed as "hiker friendly" in the guidebook. I mean, they are friendly, bu8t I don't think they are acquainted with the trail and thru-hikers. Gonna resupply now and get back on the trail, hopefully well before noon.====Who gotta, take back what I said. Maybe they ARE acquainted with hikers. When I went to pay the waitress told me a couple, who had just left, paid for my meal and told her to pass on the message "Welcome to Marion." I wish they would have stayed so I could have thanked them.Another fortunate thing that happened today was when I met up with Mike, who then reached into his pack and produced...my cookset. I didn't even realize I had left it at the shelter, which is nice because I was spared the mental distress of not worrying about not having it. I would have probably gone back and Mike would have already left. This is the first time, but unfortunately probably not the last, that I have left something behind.Mere minutes ago - another shocker. I'm writing in my journal and I hear someone saying "Bones is here?!"I raise my head and say "Who's that?""It's Daniel!""No way!"I assumed they were way ahead of me. (Daniel is one half of Daniel/Thunder Thighs, the brothers from Seattle attempting a thru in just under 4 months).But when I looked outside - no ThunderThighs."Kindof a weird day, man."I knew something must have happened."He masked it really well but Thunder had stomach problems from when we went to the Dominican Republic and he got off the trail after a zero in Marion."This is a huge shock - not only did I immensely enjoy their company and the surprise of constantly catching up to and losing them again, but I always admired their seemingly ironclad physical constitution - they never seemed to have any health problems at all. I feel bad for Daniel, but I hope he continues on.I got back on the trail from Marion at 10:30am, but I still hoped to do about 25 miles. But at 3:00pm I just started feeling tired and sore. I don't think I slept well last night with the mice.I did about 14 miles, still pretty good for a town day. In the afternoon, I knew I wasn't going that far so I plopped down in the middle of a new landscape - intensely green, low, rolling hills, often crowned with a barn or some other pastoral ornament. I took off my shoes, ate some food and played some songs. I thought it might rejuvenate me, but no, I was done.I just came back from outside talking to Daniel. I think we're gonna try to hike together for a while. I hope it works out.I'd also like to note that one of the worst things that can happen to you on the trail is being thirsty while in your sleeping bag - you want to drink, but if you do, you will have to get up and pee - guaranteed.