Date: 2013-09-17
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 25.5
Weather: clear sky

Today was one of those days when you sit down at the end of it and think to yourself, "Now THAT was a good day!"This morning was warmer than the previous two, and I was on the trail by 7:45. Around 8:30, I came to a cooler on the trail that was full of sodas! Out here , I crave certain foods/drinks that held no appeal for me back home; soda is one of them, and I didn't think twice about having one so early in the morning. Thanks "Lumbermack" and "Lab Rat!"I spent much of the morning walking through cow pastures and climbing so many fence stiles that there were times I couldn't remember if I was in the fence or outside it! These were active cow pastures - I walked right through the herds and paid special attention in order to dodge the "cow pies!"The miles went quickly this morning. I laughed out loud when, as I was walking through a really pastoral passage of tall grass and wildflowers, a Sunoco sign, framed perfectly by the trail and the horizon, came into view. I took that as my sign that I had arrived in Atkins! The trail walked right in front of the exit and entrance ramps for I-81. I've driven this road many times when traveling from school to home, and I'm sure the next time I drive by here, l'll think of this exit very differently!Just off the interstate and the trail was The Barn, a restaurant that advertised homestyle cooking - I was hooked! I ordered the Hiker Burger, a 16 oz monstrosity that kept me full well past dinner time tonight. I sat around, drinking coffee and catching up on some things while I had a good Internet connection. I kept looking at my watch, thinking, "I should really leave now to make sure I get to the shelter in time," and then the waitress would bring another cup of coffee and a friend would send another text and I would stay a little longer. Finally , around 4, I paid, packed up, and started for the shelter 4.5 miles away. When I put on my pack, I felt really good, I had checked the weather and it wasn't going to rain, and if I hurried, I just might make it to the shelter beyond this one...Back in New Hampshire, right before you enter The White Mountains, there is a hostel called The Hikers Welcome Hostel. I spent a lot of time talking to the caretaker, Legion, about how to pack a pack correctly, including how to balance it and what kinds of crap were ok to leave behind. He also talked about how you know when you've got the hang of things - I distinctly remember his example, when he said, "There will be a day when you've done 20 miles, hit the shelter you were planning on, look around and decide you've got another 5 in you. And you don't even think about it, you just go for it." I think I'm really starting to get the hang of things. I checked my watch when I left Atkins - 4:10 - and kicked it into hiker high-gear. I couldn't help but smile to myself when I looked again at Partnership Shelter and found it was only 7:55 - 3 hours and 45 minutes to hike 11.5 miles The shelter was awesome! There were two couples that are hiking from Atkins to Damascus who were very friendly and had a fire started when I arrived. There was a shower that was fairly warm, but I was so warm from hiking that it felt fantastic - not to mention it was my first shower in four days, I think it could have been cold water and I would have enjoyed it. When I came out of the shower, one of the couples said they had way too much food and asked if I would like any - more trail magic!! I was going to resupply in Marion tomorrow anyway, so I said I would love to look through it. It turned out to be all Backpacker Pantry dinner and desserts, and plenty to get me to Damascus - incredible!!