Date: 2010-04-22
From: Hogback Shelter

To: No Business Shelter
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I've got a terrible habit of missing the obvious. Today I realized that my hip-belt on my pack has been cinched entirely too tight. When I was running I never got that winded, just tired burning muscles. So today I loosened up. Let things go like expectations, deadlines, goals and just had some plain old good fun! I stopped for a break at this really pretty valley pasture. The valley dipped straight down into the trees and the trail was on the ridgeline running into the forest. I was in the sunshine in a field of fresh grass growing through the carpet of last year hay. The sunlight felt so good on my face. I closed my eyes and thought about home. I waved at hikers going by. Watched the sun hiding behind clouds. Stared up at the five huge mountains that stood between me and Big Bald Mtn. I could see it from there. It's obviously a bald spot. And it's on the biggest mountain around me. I decided to take it slow. To really enjoy today. My goal was to go slow enough that I could hike with my mouth closed. That's when I discovered the error of my ways since the beginning. My pack is really light now. 20lbs with 4 days of food and 1 liter of water. I don't need to wear it that tightly.I stopped for water and stared at the stream trickling away from me through the thick moss laden rocks. Lots of hikers passed me today. That's a new feeling. Most of the time, I'm doing the passing. Took time to talk with a nice couple I met earlier. Confucius and Minnie Mouse. They're from western NY so I knew I'd like them immediately. I like Yankees! They lived in Washington State. They're really nice. Sweet people and I try to take time to build a friendship with them.The hike up Big Bald wasn't nearly as hard as it looked. Decent view, it was windy like most balds. There was an eye sore in the form of a residential development neighborhood scared across the landscape. I met Wizard and Uncle Doyle on the summit. I ate dried fruit and crackers on the top. I put my jacket on and strolled downhill (mostly) through an incredible forest of Spring Beauties and Birch trees. Felt so alive! So thankful for the ability to do this! I'm so grateful to get a chance to live this crazy dream of mine! It's everything I thought it'd be and more. I'm left speechless. I just can't find the inspiration in my soul to express how it feels to just be here and see these things.I stopped for water at Big Bald shelter. Ice, Flying Scot, Boss, Moose, Dutchess, and Not Bad were there. Talked about music festivals and concerts we'd been to. When I left the shelter, I dropped my flip flop! Ahhh! I didn't realize it until a 1/2 mile down the trail. I absolutely had to find those things! More because Lish sent them than the fact that I love having them. Don't want to lose things like that. I had to walk back 1/2 mile uphill to find it. I met Confucius and Minnie, they hadn't seen any "trash" laying around. So it must be at the shelter I thought. I got back to the shelter and there it was. Ice had it laying beside him. I was so happy to see my flip flop! Ah the simplicity of our happiness out here!Beautiful day! Uphill¢s in the shade of huge marshmallow clouds. Not hot. Not cold. Figured out a cool pirate sounding song in my head. Starting whistling it and hopping to the beat. I recorded it in my camera. I think it fits the tune that I came up with earlier on. I'll try to see if it synchs up.Saw three older people walking South on the trail. They were looking for a "tree they'd seen in a magazine photo". At first I thought, that's impossible. Maybe, if they're lucky they'll find it. They were dressed so nice to be out here. Looked out of place. We were right by a road and some houses, but you couldn't see it from the trail. I guess that's how they got there. They smelled to nice to be hikers like us. I told them of my hopes to calm down my pace out here. To be more intentionally aware of things instead of passing by. I'll only get one shot at this opportunity. I want to get it right. We agreed not to look for a tree, or a goal, but to enjoy ourselves and maybe we'll get more than we expected out of the day. We agreed to just enjoy the moment.Felt so young and happy and vibrant today! Felt energetic and strong! Funny how I paced myself and caught back up with all the folks who passed me this morning. All of them going so fast. Making miles. That's fine. But it's like driving a car through a busy city street. You can rush. Or you can take your time and get there 10 minutes later. It's really a lot more fun just to relax and get there when you get there.I didn't have water at Spivey Gap or I would have ate dinner there with everyone else. Not Bad read a story about a poor guy who was scorned by the woman he loved. He sold everything he owned and started living on Big Bald Mtn. He has a shack there, where he died alone.I got to No Business and told everyone about the coolest shelter that I've seen on the AT so far. Yellow Mtn. Shelter is coming up. It's really beautiful! It's in a huge valley. On the left side are wildflower covered balds. On the right side are huge fields of bright green nettles. Thunder, Snickers, Trooper, Tequila John, and Atlas here tonight. Ice, Boss, Dutchess, Moose, Not Bad and the gang are not far behind me.