Date: 2003-10-03
From: Moxie Bald Lean-to

To: Shirley-Blanchard Rd.
Miles today: 14.6

Last day on the Trail and it's rained. Not real bad, but during the night a front has blown through.   A passing nobo hiker tells me there's snow on the ground where he came over the top of Moxie Bald only 3 miles behind. So, in front of my nose it rained, but it really snowed this morning. However, what's heavy on my mind is, "there's some guy living in the crapper!" I mean, for heaven's sake. You get all ready to take care of business, get in the mood, and then hike to the john and there's some other guy it it. Well, Poop! Not!I come back later. He's still there! Hmmmm...uh, excuse me. This is starting to be a problem. Am thinking about finding a friendly log, when, Oh Joy! Third time is the charm! Everything all better now! Can think about the last 15 miles or so.No more mountains to climb. It's all flat, but will have to wade across the river several more times. Where the Trail runs along the river, it's mushy and slick, and where it crosses, I wade thru barefoot. Have done about 8 miles and am taking a break at Horseshoe Canyon, when out from behind a tree, roaring and snarling, jumps Grampie.I liked to have swallowed my Adam's Apple! Doggone, I was glad to see 'em (and surprised, too.) The 1st thing he wants to know is "did I think he was a bear?" An I told him that "No, I figured his underpants were probably too tight, an that bears didn't have Conneticut twangs anyway." (What? Do I look stupid?) It's mighty good to see him for true. (Earlier this year when we had met up at Delaware Water Gap, he had hiked in several miles to surprise me with a Mountain Dew.) THIS time he had had to hike seven miles in, and ford the river, too. This really is a big deal! We sat there and finished up the last of the sandwich fixins and caught up on hiker news, and who was where and when. Well, we still had 7 miles or so to do before dark. Had to get back to Shaw's. We updated each other on Aloha Ann, Don Quixote, John and Jackie (Not the Kennedy's), Lion King, Indiana Slim, Dartman, Hammock Hanger, Baltimore Jack, Miss Janet, Stump, and everyone we could think of. (You, too, Moose and Bigfoot, congratulations to you, too!)I was a pretty happy camper by the time we got back to where Grampie had parked his truck at Shirley-Blanchard Road. Had 3 more miles to do, to Mine Hwy. 15, but we would have missed dinner at Shaw's, so it seemed that the best thing to do was go on in to Shaw's, spend the night and let young Keith slack pack us out in the morning to finish the last 3 miles. That's what we did. I don't know how many people were staying at Shaw's, but I offered to pay for supper for everyone who ate that night, as my first official act of "Trail Angel" magic. Lion King and Snakecharmer, Indiana Slim and Young Keith were around with Grampie and myself that nite for Texas Jack's farewell tootle on the harmonica. Grampie thought I was getting better, but maybe I had played "Oh, Suzanna" so many times it only sounded better? My dear, sweet Mother, and the rest of the family, had sent birthday presents to Shaw's so that Texas Jack would have 'em when he arrived. I spent a bit of time opening presents. Most of the presents were gag gifts, like a Whoopie Cushion and foot powder, but 1/2 gal. of Gummi Bears were put to good use on the drive back to Texas. Grampie and I split a room that nite and we were both glad it was almost over.