Date: 2003-08-24
From: Silverhill Campground.

To: Belter's Campsite
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: scattered clouds

start Silverhill Campgrounddestination Belter's CampsiteIt was a sheer miracle that I pitched my tent facing the East last night. I had a wonderful view of the sunrise this morning as it changed the sky from dark to pink to brilliant blue. Whispy white clouds moved dreamily overhead playing tag in the wind. I laid in bed until I heard the children waking up in the other tents. I could hear those sleepfilled little voices as they wake up, wanting breakfast. That was always one of my favorite times with my children. Just before they are fully awake.Willing to be cuddled and loved on. My how fast the years go by. I get my food bag down and go pump a pot of water for some tea and oatmeal. I toast half of a bagel in olive oil then spread blackberry jam on it. My supply of jelly and jam packets is getting low. I am going to have to find a Cracker Barrel or Shoney's pretty soon. I cannot beleive how chilly it is this morning. I had to get my jacket out while I cooked breakfast. I took my tea over to the deck and sat there in the sun warming up my body. Before long Chafe and Carnethy Bob joined me with their breakfast. The other campers were packing up ready to hike on down the trail. I offered to take a picture of all of them together. I told them it would make a fine Christmas card. It was so quiet after they were gone. We enjoyed the stillness a few more minutes, then packed our stuff up and hit the trail. By mid morning we came upon Cimmaron, taking a break. He was perched up on a rock just off of the trail with his cell phone in his hand. He called out to me, "Terri, I want to do something nice for you." I had to pull myself back to the present because when he said "Terri" I was 14 again and he was fixing to bust me! He asked me if I would like to make a quick call to my husband. I was thrilled. This would be a real surprise for Papermaker. He dialed the phone for me and shortly I heard my husband's hesitant hello. He has caller ID on his phone and it showed up with our area code. I truly caught him by surprise. Then when I told him whose phone it was, and where we were it was his turn to be flabbergasted. He thought I was kidding him. He started to tell me to relay a message to Mr.Caetano, but I thought these messages need to be given in person, so I handed Cimmaron back the phone. He told Cimmaron what a positive influence he had on him when he was in his science class. In fact he had just finished reading one of his favorite magazines, Science News. I could tell by Cimmaron's expression that he was touched by those remarks. He tells me after he hangs up that too often teachers never do know what became of some of their students. I tell him that Papermaker has worked hard all his life and has done very well for himself. I caught up with my hiker friends at an overlook where we ate lunch. There is still a nice breeze blowing and a coolness in the air. Except for a few steep climbs, even the trail was pleasent . We pushed on until almost 7:00 pm before we came to our destination for the night. My legs and feet are so very tired. It took a lot of effort to even cook supper tonight. And more effort to eat it. But there was an outcropping of rocks facing the east, and the settin sun was still hitting them filing them with shades of greens and browns, so the three of us sat there and cooked, then ate together. We crawl into our tents, the sounds of the cicadas lulling us to sleep. Only a few more days before Mudbutt will be joining me on the trail again. I hope the days pass quickly. Carnethy Bob will be leaving the trail on Thursday. His visa is only good for a few days after that. I am really enjoying hiking with both of them. We share plenty of laughs all during the day. Once again I think on the new friends I have made during the course of this hike. Just the fact that we are out here hiking, our paths crossing each others from time to time weaves our lives together in a unique way. I hope that these relationships will continue to be bonded together long after we are all backat home.total miles 12