Date: 2010-05-03
From: Partnership shelter

To: Chatfield Shelter 
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: light rain

Day 58 Partnership shelter is awesome, especially when it rains all night long. Solidly constructed with two windows that can be shuttered to allow the perfect amount of air flow through the loft. The temp last night was perfect sleeping weather. Waking up to the sound of rain on the roof just a few feet above your head is a very calming, cozy feeling. The only problem was that everyone else in the loft was zeroing at that shelter today. So no one was moving very quickly.I didn't roll off my sleeping pad until I heard Archieles and Scattracker downstairs. They had camped a few miles short of the shelter. After they had a quick breakfast they were on their way. I went ahead and packed up my stuff since the rain had stopped for the moment, but I still wasn't sure of my plans. We were told there was an 80% chance of rain and I lolligagged around the visitor center because there was internet signal in that area. I made the usual fool of myself on Facebook and checked my emails and guestbook entries. It really is nice to read those comments. Its hard to reply to all of them with just the single screen of the Droid, but I intend to when I get on a PC somewhere.By noon the rain still hadn't arrived and I was done with my surfing so I slung the pack and started walking. The trail wasn't anything spectacular but the forest is really starting to green up. Sometimes the very brightness of all that new green can be overwhelming. Yesterday the last mile or so before the shelter was so thick with foilage that I started to get an idea of what they mean by the AT being the Green Tunnel. No view left, right or up. Just what you could see in front of you before the next bend in the trail. They say the trail becomes a mind game then. I don't want to spend that much time inside my own messed up mind so I think I will download an audiobook. Much safer for society. Although, a few weeks ago I did create a Pulitzer prize winning poem that would end hunger and wars, but forgot it by the time I got to camp and could write it down.I arrived at the Chatfield shelter a little after 3 and stopped to consider my options. It was only a little more than 7 miles, but staying here sets me up for a nice run through the next few shelters (18-19 miles each day). I think I can do that if I start early, take decent breaks and eat more during the day. The other reason to stay here is that the trail goes right next to a cheap motel less than 4 miles from here. I don't trust myself that close to a soft bed and restaurant that close to 5pm. I can't afford any more town stops. I have to get more disciplined. Until I am its best not to lay temptation in my path.So here I am already writing my journal at 6:30. I've had a fire burning for 3 hours to reheat my pizza on a hot rock and dry my clothes. It didn't rain, but the humidity was so bad it might as well have. When I arrived I knew no one was behind me for a ways. No one leaving the shelter and anyone arriving at that hour would most likely call for take-out food. So I stripped off all my clothes and hung them out to dry. Then I sat around naked for 30 minutes to allow my body to air dry. I could have stayed naked until now since no one has come by, but I have been tending the fire and that's not something I will do naked what with all the sparks flying around.There is a nice creek 50' in front of the shelter, I am full of pizza and sipping on hot chocolate in front of a cozy fire. Life is good. The simple things in life really are the best. I so hope that I can successfully entwine this into my life when I return to the real world. For this certainly is not the real world. The real world has so many more responsibilities, headaches and requirements than out here. Here I just have to walk. If I don't walk, I don't make progress and if I dont make progress it means I will have to walk further the next day that I do walk. Well I seem to be getting long winded and its not even dark yet. There may be more to write about later if some thrus show up fattened from a pizza party at the Partnership shelter. If that happens I'll add more. I may add more later when I am in my sleeping bag simply because I have the time. I apologize in advance for the ramblings to come.Well its nighty nite time. I read for awhile while the fire roared brightly. It was a great fire with nice size logs. No one else has arrived. This will not be the first time I have had a shelter to my self, but I think it will be the first time I have had the entire shelter area to myself. It should be easy to wake up early and get out, especially since there may be a hot breskfast a couple hours away. 18 miles will be hard on me but I'll have all day and good weather to do it. Oh, one more thing, there is a thruhiker in a group that I keep hiking with on and off who needs a favor. Her boyfriend is playing at the Gettysburg Blue Grass festival the same weekend as Traildays - May 13 - 16. She is trying to find a ride from the Daleville, VA area to Gettysburg and back again. She's a really nice person. If there is anyone from that region going to the festival or can help her get there, please email me at hyway9@gmail.com and I'll get word to her. So goodnight and sweetdreams to all of you out there not living the Fire Roaring Night of Solitude Dream.