Date: 2005-10-29
From: Devil's Fork Gap

To: Sam's Gap
Miles today: 9.0

29 Oct (8.5 mi)There¢s another huge groups of SOBOs at MJ¢s ¢ that house is never empty!! We are treated to eggs benedict and a whole lot of goodies this morning, before the gang is sorted out and kicked out of the house. I am slack packing 8.5 mi today with Midnight and Fabian. The pinnacle of our stay at MJ¢s is tonight ¢ the Halloween outing to Johnson City. We have ideas for costumes, so we venture out to Johnson City for some morning errands, but there are still miles to be walked, so we mosie on to the multi-colored forest ¢ it is calling. Another view-less section, but very pleasant terrain, and in good company. It¢s great hiking with a dog ¢ it¢s even better hiking with someone else¢s dog and not having to carry the responsibility of an owner day after day. We took a break by the shelter, and Fabian wondered off. When we were ready to continue, we called and called for me, even began descenting down a slope off the trail where we thought we ran. Imagine, arriving at MJ¢s and telling her that we lost her dog, or someone shot him, or a bear got him!?!? We called and called him, and worried about him like we had lost our child! I guess the responsibility is still there afterall. Finally, he snuck up on right before panic ¢ he got bored and had ventured up the trail. Back at the hostel, there¢s a full house again. Paaga, Amanda & Chris showed up ¢ I met them just south of the Corn Crib near Great Barrington, MA. MJ preparing for Halloween outing ¢ she is Andy Warhol¢s 4 Marylins ¢ all 4! She glued 4 boxes together, painted them, put pitures of Marylin in 3 of them and put her head through the 4th box to be the 4th Marylin, all painted up, the way Andy Warhol painted them. Very unique and creative costume. We rummaged through her costume boxes and invented something for each of us, and then, in a lucky crew of 7, we went out in the famous MJH van to a costume party in a bar in Johnson City. Midnight in a pink bunny suit, complete with a tail and his infamous bunny ears; Skippy in his bright orange bib and a bonnet (just like mother goose!); Wobbles all in black, cape and hat, and vampire teeth, although he looked more like something out of Clockwork Orange; Paaga ¢ Miss Erwin Healthcare in a Cinderella suit (don¢t ask); Running Water, the amish dude; High Mtn was a pimp, in a purple & leopard print suit and a real fur coat; and myself ¢ the commie fairy. We all wore crocks ¢ it was the best! Midnight ¢ the bunny ¢ looked like he had orange duck feet! And cinderella had moved up in the world, with unbreakable foam slippers! We laughed all night! Lots of people in very original and elaborate costumes at this bar (Bailey¢s), but we booked out to where the ¢real southern culture¢ could be found ¢ the Nashville Soundbar, where they played techno remixes of country songs, and we were the only ones dressed up, but still laughing and having fun. Each one of us, hikers, feels some kind of stangeness upon return to civilization, but get a group of us together¢¦ and we stand in a closed Krystal (burgers) lobby till they serve us! Gorged ourselves on home-made bluberry/white choc. and orange/dark choc. fudge (courtesy of Running Water, but he didn¢t provide me with a recipe) back at MJ¢s. Out light a light bulb, with plans to help Wobbles make his Wonderful Pancakes for a another full house some 3 hours later!