Date: 2005-05-08
From: Wise Shelter

To: Hurricane Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: clear sky

Happy Mothers Day! Just wanted to get that out there. While we were at Kincora, Bob Peoples reminded everyone not to forget Mothers Day. He said if you forgot Mothers Day your mother might just forget to mail that next maildrop in time. We all laughed at that one. So, along with the card I throw out a Happy Mother's Day to my mom and to all the mom's that are reading as well as to the mom's of those I am hiking with! Snce we had such a sort day planned I said I probably wouldn't start till around ten AM. They all jumped on that one and soon a whole list of rules was established. At one point one of the girls suggested I couldn't even get out of my tent till around then! I was definitely forbidden from walking anywhere north on the trail till ten. They al knew this would be tough for me because I am such an early riser and get ready to go early so, in the morning they were loving it. I perservered and at ten I took off. Free followed and she and I spent the morning strolling and talking. We reached our first "rest" stop around 11:30. An open area called The Scales. It was pretty windy but the sun was out so it was too chilly. The rest of the group soon came in and Free, Break, Scholar, and myself played a game of Euchre while we snacked. After the game I headed to the next stop, Old Orchard Shelter, a whole 3.1 miles away. Linux soon followed and passed me. Soon thereafter, I too, reached the shelter as did the rest of the group. It was a nice place for rest number 2. After we ate Free broke out the Frisbee and she, Scholar, Poet, and I tossed it around in the little field that was nearby. Another hour later and it was time to move on to Fox Creek, another long walk of 1.5 miles, to our next rest stop. We got there around three and this place was definitely a POBO break. We waded around in the water and enjoyed the cold on our legs and feet. I was walking upstream and Free was walking downstream. As we passed my hands, acting on their own, reached into the water and threw some at her. Her response was immediate and the water fight began. It was cold! Real cold! and there were a couple of times I almost went completely down. Eventually a truce was called but not before we were pretty wet. Break must have thought getting wet was a good idea also because she almost went under twice while washing out her hair. With the warm weather playing in the water was fun. I later told Free that I owed her that one and she asked why. I reminded her of a little bottle of perfume. She laughed at that but said, "Wait till the next creek we come to"! I told her I wasn't walking by anymore water! Believe it or not we did make it to the shelter. A brand new one, just finished last June or so. Nobody else was there but the seven of us so we settled down in the shelter. After everyone ate and after it got dark we had a reading. This is the second time we have done this. Poet is packing a book by David Sedaris called "Me Talk Pretty Too Someday".(spelling on name and title may be off a bit) It is a bunch of little stories that are hilarious and we take turns reading a few of them. Poet and Serenity read the last time so this time Break and I read. I admit, I lost control while I was reading. One section in the story was so funny it took me awhile to regain my composure. After the reading it was time for bed and I don't think I lasted five minutes before I was asleep.