Date: 2004-05-09
From: Atkins, Va

To: Lynn Creek Camp
Miles today: 17.1

HOLY POOP, I'M TIRED! It's 10:30 and I just pulled in to camp. I planned don hiking 23 miles but thats not going to happen tonight... I'm going to listen to my body instead. I found a quaint little campsite by a creek and my body said: stop! I listened.The day sarted at 9am as I packed up at "the relax inn" and started to try to hitch to church. I made a sign that said "HIKER TO CHURCH" and I expected that I would catch a hitch easily. I was wrong! I stood alongside the road for 45 minutes to no avail. Cars full of people in suits continuously drove by staring at me. It's very depressing to see cars go speeding by and then see the "Jesus fish" on their bumper. My freinds who are slackpacking left for the day (Krispy, his wife, Riva Queen, Scholar, Bear tracks and Jester) and after Krispy said he would "pray for me to get a ride", I laughed. Finally at 10:15 RivaQueen's husband offered to give me a ride before he returned to New York. At 10:22am I arrived at the church of God 8 minutes prior to service.Maybe my hiching experience was an omen portraying the spiritual slumber of the town. While people were nice, the sermon was a long drawn out talking that had something to do with Mother's Day. The pastor mentioned mother's day in the bible, talked about his mother, and after near an hour made no point. While this saddened me I did enjoy singing and I enjoyed Joe. Joe is a kind man at church who showed me where to put of my stuff. He found me a Ham Biscuit and some Coke and insisted I put some candy bars in my pocket. After church he kept trying to give me more food and I told him I could not carry anymore. Finally to make him happy I took the 2 liter bottle of coke. Joe not only drove me back to the trail, but he also let me use his cell phone to call my mom and leave a "Happy MOthers Day" message. By 12:40 he dropped me off and I said goodbye. I made sure Joe was gone before I threw out the coke bottle . While pushy with food; I saw more of Jesus in Joe than I did in the sermon. One other fun moment was my discussion with a 4 year old, Eli, while waiting for Joe. He told me I looked like a bird with my pack on. He asked where I slept? and Why I walked for fun? Eli was sooo cute... its hard to explain thru-hiking to a 4 year old. Talking to Eli was nice and made me miss children's church at home.Before hittig the trail I ate a quick lunch at Dairy Queen. By 1pm I was hiking. Teh first 3 miles were easy and I felt good as I arrived at a shelter with a nice privy. I felt better after I used the privy and then had a snack. I struggled over the next 11 miles and I saw no one. My pace was slow and my achilles hurt, I knew not to push. While slow I enjoyed walking through farmland and being surrounded by fields. I saw a toad and 2 newts as well as more flowers. There were fire-pink, violets, anemone, and more flame azalea. I sang spirituals and sauntered on through the heat lost in my own little world. Being alone I also had time to pray and sing. It was tough but nice today.At 8pm I arrived at a shelter to see Socks, Pavlo, Laura, and a woman i had never met, mouse. Dinner was nice and I appreciated conversation after a day of solitude. By 8:45 though I left to night hike 9 more miles....it didn't happen.The night was dark and I kept walking through spider webs. There were hundreds of millipedes and moths kept attacking my nightlight. It was cool, but kind of scary and I prayed a lot. I also see littel eyes in the trail that upon closer look were spiders.... ugh. I usually enjoy night hikign, but I was a little freeked out tonight. I simply had a bad feeling and I am not sure why. at 10pm when the lightning started, I chose to forfeit my last 5 miles I had planned. Now I set up my tent stealthily and am going to bed near 2 other tents. I dont't think they heard me. I'm really beat and need my sleep. Tomorrow I hope to pull a big day. I have a big climb to start to the day, but it looks good from there. Hopefully my muscles won't hurt and I will have more energy. Right now neither is the case though so I'm going to drop out.Beatobx ttt