Date: 2007-08-04
From: VA 56 Tye River, Virginia

To: VA 56 Tye River, Virginia
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Hey folks, just a quick note to say thanks to some pretty wonderful people. I had called Harper's Ferry and asked them to forward any mail to me, because I knew a few things had been sent there for my birthday.Wow, how cool and motivating it is to receive such wonderful thoughts from complete strangers!! Thanks to Dave for your hilarious postcards. Dave sends these cards (to Persistent also) and then adds his own AT-related caption to it, and it always cracks me up! Great morale boost everytime. Thanks to Tom and Ginny for your wonderful card AND the cool info about these salamanders I keep talking about. And people, these two own a tree farm up in New Hampshire, named High Ridge Tree Farm. The card has a picture of Turkey Tail Fungus that was taken at their farm. Really beautiful and despite the fact they don't know me, they have offered any help I need when/if I get to NH.Thanks to Cathy (Liptstick)! Any card with a kitty on it is a winner in my book, and the "contribution" and affirmation that LOL is Aok really took me aback. LOL Seriously though...thanks.And then just a few minutes ago, the postperson delivered an envelope from Ron containing a hilarious Far Side cartoon (showing a dog teaching a class to other dogs about how when cats poof up to look bigger its "trickery") and 2 California lottery tickets! OK, as I type, I'm scratching them off...potential to win $1,000 with each...survey says? Strike out on both! LOL Hey, can't win em' all huh? Still fun. Thanks!!! Finally, I got to see what the mystery present in bubble wrap was that Persistent had been carrying around, and I was made aware of it in Damascus. Drum roll please...it was none other than a hand-written note from Tom Hennessy AND a Hennessy Hammock T-Shirt!! I will be taking a picture proudly wearing it and post it up here. It's TOOOOO hilarious! THANKS PERSISTENT!! You KNOW I'll have difficulty tearing it off my body to even wash it right? By the way, ready to convert yet now that I'm sure you've suffered through rock-filled nights on the ground in PA? Anyway, I just wanted to share these amazing things with everyone, and to say thanks for all the birthday wishes in my guestbook as well. Now that I'm approaching old age (34 yrs old now), I'm sure I'll be ready to settle down and just work that meaningless 9-5 job somewhere right? NO!! NOT!!! NEVER!!On a different topic, apparently Tom Hennessy got the video clip testimonials up on his website from trail days (www.hennessyhammock.com). Several of this years thru-hikers are on there as well as the infamous Sgt. Rock (oh yeah, and mine is up there too). Just click on Backpacker Videos on the top left. I look like a total dork, but that's nothing new. More entries from the trail coming next week! I've got it charted out to basically try to slackpack through the Shenendoah's and then hike (for real...actually sleeping in my hammock again) from Front Royale up to Harper's Ferry. I'm planning some big mileage days through the SNP, so it should be a nice wake up call for me again. Stoked to get back at it, crossing my fingers my body will hold up to be able to continue to Maine. And by the way, the realization that if I am able to flip-flop, I will no longer have a "must be finished by this date or else" deadline hovering over me is LIBERATING!!! Makes me feel as if I can take extra rest days if my foot is telling me too, and I don't have to continuously re-calculate my needed average miles/day in order to make it "on time". Ahhhh....freedom. ~Certain