Date: 2003-06-21
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter 

To: Ten Mile River Lean-to 
Miles today: 13.0

Aloha! "Rain drops keep falling on my head!" And falling, and falling, and falling, and ... You get the idea. I went to bed with the rain so I guess I should rightfully wake up with the rain. We're becoming close. At least I think so since it was determined to stay with me most of the day.   Shortly after leaving the shelter this morning I happened upon the "Dover Oak" (known locally as such). This is reportedly the largest oak tree on the AT. Its girth four feet from the ground is 20 feet, 4 inches. That's even larger than the Keffer Oak back in VA. Both are magnificent trees. This one is estimated to be more than 300 years old. It's a great reminder of what the forest probably looked like 350 years ago.   With Mr. Thunder constantly at my shoulder, I didn't linger at the oak very long. My next stop - the Appalachian Trail Railroad Station. This rail station is literally on the AT and is visited by the Metro North Commuter Railroad. Many of the hikers out here are taking advantage of the station and going into New York City for a day or two. I actually considered doing the same since I had a friend staying there but couldn't reach him to work it out. (That's okay though, I don't believe the theaters would have liked me in my hiking attire.) Anyway, this train station is only available on weekends to and from Grand Central Station for about $17 round trip. It's a cute station. One small platform, one small bench and the AT banner overhead. Pretty cool.   While trying to figure out the weekend schedule the thunder and lightening picked up reminding me to get a move on. As my next several miles were crossing farmer's fields, I didn't make it to the tree line before the rains came plummeting down - in the middle of the last field. This was my day for rain.   It did slack off long enough for me to get to the Wiley shelter and fix a tasty sweet and sour noodle soup for lunch. Soup seemed the perfect thing for a wet woman with no place to be in a hurry. My day was to end after a short 13 easy miles so why not enjoy a cup of soup? It was tasty.   The trail all day was pretty awesome but even more so around the Ten Mile Shelter area. It meandered along on pine needles next to the Ten Mile River. That river looked so inviting and I was on my fifth day of no actual shower that I had to stop. Trout and bass fishers be damned! I was getting a bandana bath! And I did. Standing on the edge of the river in my sports bra and undies (both black, looks like a swim suit), I bathed. I felt like a completely different person when finished. I felt clean! If there were any hidden fishermen, they either got the surprise of their life or had seen the same many times before and hadn't run screaming into the woods. This is good. And I was happy!   With such a short day I was at the shelter by 3p. I had it to myself and had fully intended on starting this entry to you shortly after arriving but while I was away at the pump getting water, The Walking Stomach arrived to join me. Walking, for short, is a volunteer ridge runner and this was her destination for the night.   Not that I would intentionally ever put anyone above or before you but I will admit that I was having such a good time chatting away the remaining rainy day with Walking that my idea of writing early went by the wayside. As I said, we spent the day chatting, drinking hot tea and eating Oreo cookie bars (one of my favorites). I was a pleasant way to spend a miserably wet day with many hours to waste.   If you're wondering why I'm sitting around in shelters vice hiking on it's because I have a mail drop in Kent and knew that I wouldn't make it to town before Saturday noon. Why hurry if you can't do what you need to do? Since I now can't pick anything up until Monday, ambling along seemed healthy, fun and cost effective. It seems to be working nicely.   Ahhh... a new-to-me hiker has just joined us. Meet Tribes, a guy that's out for his dose of AT section hiking. Tribes has been section hiking the trail for several years now. He even knows some of the folks I knew, or knew of, from 2001. Small world. He seems a little frazzled right now. He's explaining to Walking that a portion of the trail is poorly marked and he's been lost for the last two hours. So lost that he ended up on Dr Joyce Brothers' property and she's not friendly to hikers. Walking confirmed that the good Dr does not want hikers on her property; nor ATVs or anyone else. Oops!    Wait, two more folks have arrived. Two weekend hikers trying to decide whether to stay or go. I do believe that the loud thunder and Walking's info on how far the next shelter is and what the terrain is like just convinced them to stay. The more the merrier. I believe it's also the smartest move but that's beside the point.   It's been pouring now for quite some time. There's some loud thundering and nasty lightening happening. Wuhuu! I love this weather. As long as I'm not hiking across a ridgeline in it. Monya? It reminds me of sitting on the front porch many years ago in Texas watching the same with my father. Good days, good memories. Just like it is now. {sigh}   Okay, that's it. Everyone has settled down to sleep and I need to do the same. Perfect sleeping weather. I do so love the sound of rain on a tin roof. Sleep well; I have faith that I will.BSandTs: not todayAandPs: unh unhMandGs: can't think of anyCritter count: all smart enough to stay inside!Thunder, et al