Date: 2003-05-25
From: Lynn Camp Creek

To: DavisFarm Campsite
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up refreshed and hungry. That is a good sign. I am still not eating any more than usual. In fact,I think I am eating less.T hat may be why I am so tired. I also have ran out of my thyroid medicine. That definetly would cause low energy. I still am not sure how I messed up on the medicine supply but I have. I have not had any blood pressure medicine in awhile either. I am not sure why, but my feet hurt more everyday. It is discouraging to have foot problems after so many miles of painfree feet!I am still upset that my pocketmail has died. I get the phone number for them from Morph and decide to go into Bland tomorrow and call them. I was going to go into Bastian,Va. since it was closer, but I figured if I did and they were closed for the holiday, then I would be in Bastian with no place to stay.I don't know why, but I did not lace my boots tight when I put them on this morning and by noon I have blisters on both heels. That makes walking very painful and slow. I am in an ill mood all day. Beating myself up over not retying my boots when I first noticed the hot spots. I finally stop and put some blister pads and duct tape on both heels, tie my boots tight enough to strangle a knat and hike on.I bemoan the fact that I have lost my journal entries. It will be difficult to rewrite them later.The group is planning on staying at Davis Farm Campsite tonight. I am trying to stat with them since it is lonely at night by myself.I get to Chestnut Knob Shelter and decide to take a break for lunch. For whatever the reason I cannot get in the habit of eating until it has been several hours and I am worn out. This is not good and I know it. This shelter is one of the few shelters that is out in the open and not tucked down in the dark damp woods. It is made of rock and is completely enclosed. It also looks down over Burkes Garden. A unusual geologic feature. It is a large crater shaped depression in the ground surrounded on all sides by a high ridge that the AT follows for nearly 8 miles. I thought I was walking in circles at times!It is called God's Thumbprint, and was the Vanderbilt's first choice for the Biltmore Estate. I would love to stay here for the night but move on in order to stay with the group.The clouds move in just before we get to the campsite. I am afraid tonight I really will break my record of not having to set up my tent in the rain. The campsite turns out to be a flat protrusion out of the side of the mountain overlooking what I suppose is Davis farm. There is enough room for maybe two or three tents. The veiw is spectacular, but most of the group chooses to move on in order to camp together. I am too tired and decide to stay and camp with KrazyKats and his dog Barley. Not the same dog or hiker from OverMountain Shelter though. It is just starting to rain as I set up my tent. I have plenty of water so I am spared the steep trip down to the water source tonight. I sit in my tent and fix supper. I decide to fix some milk and cookies for dessert. I end up spilling the milk in the front of my tent. I watch in dismay as it flows across the floor of the tent. I try to look at this view that I have from my dining room window. What percentage of people ever see anything remotely close to this grand? Much less be able to eat while looking at this.I take my shoes off once I am certain I will not be going back out in the mud. I massage my hurting feet and notice how swollen my ankles are now. What is the meaning of this??The rain starts in earnest now and I lay there listening to it as it hits the roof of my tent.It dawns on me that here I am out in the middle of nowhere, alone, camping with a complete stranger and have much different feelings than the other night.I finally go to sleep, worrying that I am going to wake up and forget how narrow the ledge is that I am sleeping on and fall down the side of the mountain.I am looking forward to going into town tomorrow.