Date: 2012-06-07
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to

To: Potaywadjo Spring Shelter
Miles today: 10.1

What a day today was! Steven got up around 5:15. My abdomen kind of ached and I knew immediately that I had to get up. I knew this day would come... and here it is. Blah. What a happy way to start the day.We cleaned up our stuff and started hiking at 8:00. It was a pleasant hike, but the next time someone tells me that the trail is flat, I won't believe them. Of course, it was mostly flat after the few hills. We came upon a neat campsite with a privy with TWO PLY toilet paper!! WOO HOO!Steven asked me if I was having a good time on the trail. I said that I was (and he is), but he thought I was having a miserable time because of all the complaining I do. I didn't think I was complaining all that much, and in fact, I've been being fairly positive despite my cramping legs and blistering foot and painful toenail and wet shoes and sore shoulders and aching back, but I guess I wasn't. I got upset because I was being encouraging us for being awesome and commenting on the beautiful surroundings. I said I was upset that he thought I was complaining so much because I felt I was being positive despite my issues. He told me that it was specifically about the wet feet. So, I explained that the wet feet complaint is because wet feet equals blisters and possibly foot rot.After I got over his criticism (took about an hour) the day became awesome. There was a real staircase made of metal with a railing going down to a stream. The stairs didn't go into the stream. They were too high up, so it was extremely awkward. I decided that to prevent the dreaded wet feet I'd take off my shoes and not even bother to try crossing on the slippery rocks or logs. Unfortunately, the bank was steep and my shoe fell into the stream!! As I watched it begin to float away in the current a wave of panic washed over me. I threw my hiking poles at Steven and told him to hold them. I took of my pack as quickly as possible and chucked it to the back while I tore down the stream bed to get my shoe. I got it! It was full of water. Horrah. I dumped it out back into the stream. We then crossed the stream and I went to take a picture of the staircase. My camera was broken. It must have been from when I chucked my pack onto the shore. After duct taping my blister and shedding some tears over the camera we kept on moving. Ahead was a muddy, sloppy mess. There was a log across it, so I went on it. Then I fell. Backwards. Luckily my foot went in the mud, but my back went on the log. I could not have gotten up without the help of Steven. I just started laughing. Suddenly everything became funny (because, honestly, what else are you going to do?) and the rest of the day was just plain fun.I guess sometimes bad things need to happen in order for you to enjoy the simple things. We saw a few frogs and toads and also our first snake. It was a garter snake.We are now at the Potaywadjo Spring Shelter. Straw Hat, Jonathan, Andy Pikey, Hoofer, and Gandalf are all here. We named him Gandalf this evening. He found a new walking stick today and as he approached us with his stick, he was wearing his headlamp. It looked like a light at the top of his staff, as if Gandalf was using some magic. He kept the name. The funny thing is he tried to name someone else that yesterday. I have one pair of dry socks left and I don't want to use them. It is too dark to write now. On to tomorrow!