Date: 2004-10-04
From: Spaulding Mtn. Lean-to

To: Stratton
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I¢ve just finished talking to my various friends and family on the phone for nearly 3 hours. They tug on my heart. Still, I¢m savoring every last moment that I¢m out here, which I believe should be about 11 more days. I hiked with Dapper Dan for the second day in a row¢¦woohoo! I awoke to the pastel pink and teal of the sunrise. It¢s amazing to have splendor as an alarm clock. We took our time packing up and talked. We finally hit the trail at about 8:45 a.m. As we started we knew we would have to hold a solid pace to make the Post Office. All day as we hiked we played. We joked, we make up songs, we played the song game and joined in other randomness. It was great. The sky was cold and clear. We began with the climb of Spaulding Mountain, but it was not much of a test at all. After 3 miles we stopped at a view off the side of Sugarloaf. The valley of crimson and gold below was fully illuminated. Clouds rolled over the cusps of the mountain peaks in a triple layer, the deep billowing just floating over the edge of the peaks. We stopped, stared, breathed in deep and took a break. As of that moment we had under 200 miles remaining. When we resumed hiking we had 2 very steep downhill rocky miles. Out of breath, singing, we bounded over rocks and leaves toward the river. The combination of bouncing off the rocks with so much gold and red swirling all around was almost hallucinogenic. Luckily no one ¢tripped¢ :-).   With such fine songs as ¢Achy Breaky Heart¢ and ¢Just Eat It¢ it was nice to hit the river and stop hiking¢¦and stop singing. There, we took yet another short break at 11:20: 5.1 miles down, 8.4 to go. I was having fun with Dapper Dan, but the next 3 miles would be tough. South and North ¢Crocker¢ Mountain lay in wait. With a 900 foot incline in half a mile she would be no ¢piece of cake¢. (ha ha :-)). With a quiet march I led us to the base of the mountain. With a great deal of sweating and silent prayer I took out the first hellish slope of South Crocker. The mountain seemed to never end, but we reached our viewless peak none-the-less. Both dripping with sweat we proceeded to drop down the south peak and up the north a mile later. We had covered 3.2 tough miles and the time was 1:15 p.m., all downhill from here. The final 5.2 found us hurtling downward for what seemed like an eternal autumn tunnel. With visions of a mail-drop in mind I flew. Dapper, not the type of guy to be left behind, joined me for the wicked pace. After approximately 35,000 trees, 45 more songs, 7 billion more roots, and who knows how many rocks I was flying¢¦then I jumped 3 feet in the air to avoid the largest garter snake I have ever seen. It was close to 4 feet long. I dodged the larger snake with 2 yellow stripes flanking its black body, while dapper skipped over a 16 inch little asp. Only mildly scared out of my gourd I kept going until the sound of the road was apparent. We kept pushing, inspired by every car passing in the distance. I was nearly running when I felt a ¢twinge¢ in my hamstring. Not about to try to pull my second largest muscle, I slowed the pace just a bit. None-the-less, we pulled in to the road at 2:55 p.m. 5.2 miles in 100 minutes¢¦whoopee! With a fellow Christian beside me we stopped and prayed. 5 minutes later a kind man gave us a hitch. Stratton is a small cute little town. Most of them are lately. We are staying at The White Wolf Inn, which is surprisingly pleasant for a 30 dollar double :-). We make it to the Post Office on time and my friends Zack & Jen sent me goodies :-). Money, cookies, and a phone card, who could ask for anything more? We both were starving as we arrived, time for a trip to the ¢Diner¢. Before heading to eat we ran into Yoda and Mad Scientist. We started way back on the same day and now I caught up. They informed me that ¢Sunshine¢ is a half day ahead :-) and that a cold front is 2 days away :-( . After the fun reunion we went to go eat. I was smiling by the time my ¢steak bomb¢, curly fries, cottage cheese, and Pepsi were finished. We also went on a visit to the general store. I finished the night on the phone. I talked with Mom & Dad, Carla, my best friends Mo & Jenny, and my friends Zack and Jen. I have so many close friends who care for me. I also see so many of my prayers being answered at home. My sister was having a tough time with one little hellion 6 year old. I have been praying for her and he withdrew yesterday :-). I know how much I want to take what I¢ve learned out here home. I want to live for God not things. I want to be responsible and have discipline. I want to have fun and appreciate beauty. I never want to forget who has carried me. I know I have the friends to encourage me and a God who will never leave me. As I hung up the phone I was bubbling as I realized how much I have changed out here. I still have 10 days and near 200 miles to go and I don¢t want to take anything for granted. (Why did the rock feel unloved when he was called the wrong name?... He was taken for granite¢¦ugh.) Sorry about the joke, but I love the beauty and blessings out here and I want to savor every last minute. Still, I know there is more I¢m being prepared for. This trip has been a huge part of that preparation and to all who have helped me I just want to say ¢Thank You!¢        For each kindness that I have heard        For each small but inspiring word        For those who housed me on the trail        Or sent a package in the mail        For each little call on the phone         You helped me not feel all alone        You helped push me where I¢m going      And probably with out knowledge       You¢ve been a small piece of a plan       That has made me a godly man      My trip has been so hard and fun       Thank you all, for all you¢ve done!God Bless, BEATBOX   ttt