Date: 2005-06-10
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Not a lot to talk about today. Another day of rest and running into people. The Bruces, Piker, Domino, Ms. Mileage, and Sunshine rolled in today. I don't think there are too many people I know that are behind yet. It is nice to know that most of the people you got to know are in the area now. It will make for an enjoyable next few days/weeks. I figured I would take a minute and talk about Yogiing. The term comes from Yogi the Bear, the master of the art. Getting something from someone without actually asking for it. Free and I have been involved in 2 instances of the perfect Yogi but, both times, they were unintentional and we didn't realize what we had done till afterwards. Both scenarios are similar so I will relate one of them. It was late in the afternoon and I was coming down from a long, hot uphill. There were still a couple of miles to go and Free was ahead of me. I got to the road crossing and Free was there, talking to a couple of people. She waved me ovr and a I was introduced to them. Free then asked if I was ready to go on. I told her not until I had something to eat and had gotten water. I sat down by the bridge and broke out my tortilla shells and peanut butter. Free was still chatting and I asked her if she wanted one. She shook her head so I got the spoon out and started spreading the peanut butter on the tortilla. I also took a spoonful of peanut butter and ate it straight up. By now, Free had made it closer to me, still talking, and then she decided she wanted some too. I gave her a tortilla shell and she started spooning peanut butter onto it. We sat there munching on a good hiker snack. Meanwhile, the two people were watching us looked at each other and one of them asked, "Do you want some food?" (silly question to ask a hiker!) Free and I, at the same time, said, "No, I think we are OK." They, "Are you sure. We are done for the day and have extra." Us, "Well, if it isn't a problem for you." Them, "Not at all. You two look like you could use it more than us." What could she have meant by that? Just because we looked like two waifs, dirty and tired, spooning peanut butter out of a jar, didn't mean we needed the food. Even though we wanted it. Need and want are two different things! Out comes the food. 6 packs of Ramen, cookies, candy and nuts. A veritable treasure trove. We protested but they insisted so we took it. We said our thanks and they left. Free, looking at me slyly, "Way to go, Cuppa." Me, with a confused look, "What do you mean." Free, grinning, "Turning on the old Cuppa charm, with the ladies." Me, "What are you talking about?" Free, laughing, "You just pulled another perfect yogi. The peanut butter did it again." Me, "Oh man, I didn't even think about it! I just was hungry and wanted a snack." Free, grinning yet again, "Yeah, right, and you didn't just charm them into it one little bit, did you?" I shut my mouth knowing that to say anything more would just provide her with more ammo. As we walked, she continued to tease me, for the next half mile. There really was no "intent". It just happened. That is why we call it the perfect yogi. The other circumstance was very similar to this one but Free was the instigator of that one. Anyway, off into the Shennies tomorrow. I will be able to get updates out fairly easily because there is a lot of "civilization" there.