Date: 2004-04-23
From: Troutdale, VA

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

Before I left home, my "little" cousin Everett handed me a gift to take with me. It's a polished, amber and white stone with an insect engraving. He told me, "If you're out in the Appalachian woods and you get worried, just rub this." My very own Worry Rock. I've carried it with me since Springer Mountain. I've used it and it works.   Thank you Everett. And Happy Birthday.   I woke up on Kelly's lawn next to Sarah.   "I don't WANNA get up," she whined. And the rhythm and pitch was close enough that we both knew what had to be done:       I don't wanna get up; I'm an AT hiker.   I've been wasting half the morning signing the register.   From rain & snow to the sun's bright glow,    I don't know why the hell I'm here!   I don't wanna get up cause if I did,    I'm gonna have to leave Damascus.   (It's to the tune of the Toys R' Us jingle. COME ON, people!)   Yeah, I know it's not perfect, but by the time we came up with just THAT, I was already too bored to bother fixing it up.   Trey gave me, Sarah, Beavis, and Uncle Ben a ride back to the trail. As we got out of the jeep, Beavis said, "I just really don't feel like hiking today." That's all it took. The three of them decided to skip these 14.5 miles and head straight to Partnership Shelter.   I, of course, can not skip 14.5 miles. I can not even skip .1 miles. Every white blaze. See you guys tonight.   Before starting out, I found another rock in my pack. Perhaps she thought I was kidding. Too bad. I wash my hands of that person.   I start hiking, and it begins to rain.   I get to the first shelter, and the rain stops.   Figures.   At this shelter, I meet "The Treehuggers." I had seen the name in the registers, but hadn't met them until now. Here with me were two men and a woman. I introduced myself and asked if they had individual trail names as well. The first gentleman said with a smile, "I'm Strider."   Ok.   "Gandolf," said the next.   Oh no. They didn't.   "Guess," said the woman. And her trail name was Eowynn.   They did.   The forth memeber of the party had gone ahead. A "short, stocky fellah" named Gimli. Of course.   Don't get me wrong; they were really nice people. And hell, with my trail name often misheard as Legolas, I was really close to being a part of their fellowship.   I have to say, today was tough. Knowing my friends were already at the place I was taking all day to walk to. Knowing I had the CHOICE to either take a 10 minute ride in a vehicle on a paved road, or walk 14.5 miles to the same place. Hmmm. Tough choice.   Oh, and did I mention latter involves hiking up and down mountains, through rain and sweltering sun, pouring sweat, and plenty of rocks and roots to abuse your already sore feet?   Really?? In that case, I'll go with the 14.5 miles!!   I'm seriously concerned about my mental well-being.   I made it to the shelter in a ridiculously fast time. Partnership is one of the nicest shelters on the trail, with a shower and a nearby phone to order pizza. Which arrived just minutes before I did.    And when Heather & Arwen showed up with beer, well...what more do you really need in life?