Date: 2013-05-26
From: Rockfish Gap, VA

To: Calf Mountain Hut
Miles today: 7.7

Started out on the side of Skyline Drive just passed the I-64 overpass, just south of the Shenandoah National Park southern entrance. Started hiking north at 10:15am leaving our humble driver and civilization behind.I'm so achy and a bit cold so I am forcing myself to write. The thrill I felt this morning was undefinable...beyond words. "Pure Joy". It was so exciting to feel the whole group oozing with happiness. We start off with our good friends, Jeremy and Sara. Sara is a bit nervous because she has never hiked before. She's a college aged kiddo and was raised with my kids. My four beautiful kids have agreed to start this hike out with us. Cody 22, Brynne 21, Ruth 17 and Diana 12 and then myself. The older kids will return to college so only the two youngest and I plan to thru hike this baby. The girls were born in China and hope to get a world record here of being the first Chinese-born thru hikers. It is a bright blue sky kind of day accented by vibrant, new Spring greens, dotted with brilliant flowers of yellow, purples, lavender and white.These Venus fly trap kind of flowers are odd and other worldly and pop up in the grasses as we walk by. Toby took lots of photos by our very first blaze. Our group scampered up a short but steep trail into the welcoming woods. I turn to kiss Toby good bye. Without warning I burst into tears. I look at my husband and say,"I'm going to kill your children". He laughs and says, "You're going to give them the time of their lives". "No", I contradict him. "I don't know enough, who am I to think I can do this, I am not skilled enough, I could kill them out here..." I blather on mixing fear into sadness at separating from this man I adore. His chuckles, hugs of reassurance and firm slap on the bottom head my up the hill into the unknown. As I pass that first blaze I wonder if the sight of the white will always fill me with a toe curling thrill. Certainly this is the honeymoon period but it all went so good I can't believe our luck and my body.I was very worried, silently to myself, concerned that my body just couldn't do it. My pack is disappointingly heavier than I had planned and hoped for. Probably around 35lbs but that's with LOTS of food and two huge containers of water Diana is at 16 lbs, Ruth at 26, Brynne at 30 and Cody at a whopping 40lbs. I am guessing because we never got a final weigh in. We just got too excited and focused on GETTING OUT THERE ALREADY!!! On the way up from Florida I painted our boots with bright, exuberant colors. If I'm going to be looking down at those brown boots I need something to fill my eyes with wonder. I chose to express myself via Aboriginal artwork called Dream-time because I have always loved their commitment to "walkabouts" and the symbolism of Dream-time. Its all about camping, walking, fires, etc. I dreamtimed my boots and crocs. Fun and soothing it's my zen-like meditation to calm my nerves as I approach the trail and my life long dream. It's overwhelming to know that I'm about to face this dream and really do it. It's easier to just dream sometimes but i am a doer so here I go...doing. I kind of never thought I'd actually do it and here I am. AND thrillingly with all of my kids, miraculous with all of their age ranges and places in the world. I was happy just to be in the car all together, a complete family again. My body felt good as i began to hike. Spasms at first but then settling into a rhythm as my body accepted the weight. Took 2 Alleve so hopefully not too achy tomorrow. Ate spaghetti tonight. Lots of hikers in the shelter and several tents surrounding it. Cody's school project is to count bees- which makes Brynne feel complimented as her initials spell BEE. She has had a life filled with BEE costumes, signs, clothing, etc. We counted 8 bumblebees. Today we called COdy "Beast" because he hikes so fast and carries so much. Immediately he replied,"If I'm the Beast then Diana is the Beast Cub because she's right behind me all day". Guess this will be their trail names. We will have to see how they fit. Diana, I mean Beast Cub, is an amazingly fast, nimble and energetic hiker. I'd like to wax poetically but I'm getting really cold and super tired. Sad I have to get out of my warm sleeping bag and pee one more time. I am so old! Privy gross so the woods are better. Sigh Burrrr