Date: 2004-05-11
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

The 19 miles were not the best idea I have had on this trip. Woke up and felt all kinds of sore. Shin splints, Achilles heel and a knee. Decision time. I definitely had to get into Bland for a mail drop. But I had to make up my mind about how to split the maildrop. The walk to the road intersection to town was an 11 miler. Bumpy. The trail really had some very nice features. The first part is described in the handbook as "Little Wolf Creek (2900') crosses AT 12 times in 2 miles north". Maybe Little Wolf Creek was crossed twelve times, but the AT was crossed by some water at least 20 times. Today, my morning walk into Bland was joined by BeatBox. We had a wonderful time splashing through the creek(s). At first we tried to keep dry but after awhile it was more fun to just splash in. At one crossing I slipped and nearly fell in. BeatBox hit the same slippery spot and went down. We got to the road crossing that marked the beginning of a dry stretch. We choked down a liter of water and filled our water containers. As we rounded the corner on the trail from the creek, there was a Styrofoam box sitting by the trail. It was an ice chest full of fruit juices. We each had a grape juice on top of our liter of water. Nice trail magic. The next 6.9 miles got interesting. In the language of hikers, it could be PUD, pointless up and downs. But in my mind, it's all pointless. I shared at various times, thru-hikers are like lemmings, we are called to walk 2000 miles and some of us survive up to Maine. It's all pointless. No one gets a medal. No one comes out with a band when someone gets to Maine. No notices if we take six months or six years to finish the trail. But, it sure smelled nice. We didn't see many flowers, but something was making it all smell nice. And BeatBox sang contemporary Christian songs and we both sang Amazing Grace. I had a blast, I think BeatBox did too. Then we played word games. Pre-words. A premonition of DQ cones causes preponderances of puns. When we got to US21, there were some hikers who had just come back from Bland. They were waiting for the weather to cool off before walking on. BeatBox got us a ride to the Dairy Queen in town where I ate an Ultimate burger; two meat patties, bacon and cheese. Large order of fries, a large soda and a dip cone.BeatBox had a burger and a chilly cheese dog. I left him at the DQ with Marzipan, who showed up. Went to the Post office and got my boxes. Got them sorted and a jump box mailed ahead to the town. I also mailed back my ridgerunners and my knee brace. With four days of food and getting rid of some weight, my pack must register less then thirty pounds. I felt like I was flying.   NTN was at the main intersection to getting out of town, so we waited for a hitch. Lucky us, ten minutes. The gentleman who picked us up must have been bored. When we got back to the trail head, Mouse had just walked out. I mentioned she was probably going into town. After NTN and I got out of the truck, the gentleman turned around and picked up Mouse. Made it to Helvey, and there was someone there. Southbound section hiker called Frenchy. It was his last day on the trail. Getting off at Bland. Frenchy is/was a scout master and does the trail every year, section by section. He turned into an angel for me. He uses the same water bag I use. Since it was his last day he gave me the liner out of his and now I have a full use two and half gallon water bag.The three of us stayed up talking about the younger hikers. The three that were at the road crossing had come in and set up tents. Yoda, MadScientist and Sundance, and the trail dog Lucy (Yoda's dog). Apparently they had stayed in Bland the night before and had had a few beers. What the heck, we're all out here doing the best we know how. Some are more experienced then others.         Namaste'