Date: 2003-07-11
From: Seely Shelter

To: Fish Hatchery Road
Miles today: 2.4

Last night, as we lay in our tents, thunder started to roar and the windkicked up fiercely. Another hiker, BearBait, had arrived at the shelter tolater be joined by Laingnappe John and Squaw. As the storm started toworsen, Bumpkinleaned out of her tent to inform me that we were under a severe thunderstormwarning and a possible tornado watch. I yelled out the info to Bearbait andtold her that if we made a mad dash to the shelter, it would be due to theweather. Bumpkin said, "Uh, Anna, if there is a tornado, we would probablybe safer in the privy". "Yeah", I replied, "but if I am going to die, Idon't want it to be in the privy!". As our laughter died down, the stormraged while we were each cozy in our tents. To me, there is nothing betterthan being curled up in a warm, dry sleeping bag in my tent in a storm.The wind blew all night long, and it lulled me to one of the best nights ofsleep I have had in a long time. When we woke up, we spent some time talking to the other hikers as ourgear dried out. Our original plan was to try to meet the couple that ownsthe Dutch Haus, a local B&B, for the free hiker lunch they provide and thenhike tomorrow down to the river and stay with them. We discovered that theywere not doing lunch anymore, so we planned to see them tommorow. However,as we started hiking, Bumpkin said that she had a strong feeling that weshould go there tonight instead. We both felt great, and weren't in anyparticular need of civilization, but we are both strong believers in ourinner voices. So, we threw our plans to the wind and headed down to the FishHatchery to call for the shuttle. As we waited, we talked with the Hatchery worker, who told us about thetrout. It was a neat place, but unfortunatley it is closed to the publicdue to budget restrictions. This is such a neat, educational place that Ihope they can work out their money problems. I could just close my eyes andimagine hundreds of school kids gathered around the tanks.   Before long, Lois, one of the owners of the Dutch Haus, drove up in herSUV and spirited us away to her home. A quick stop by the country storeprovided us with homemade chili for lunch and minutes later we were walkingup her drive. This is one of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen!Totally made of wood, with a huge stone fireplace, it is light and airy, andis the closest I have come to being outside and inside at the same time.All the windows are open and the lawn is being mowed. The breeze and smellof fresh-cut grass is simply wonderful.   As Lois shows us to our room, I am speechless. Cozy terry-cloth robeshang in the closet just waiting for us to take a warm shower. Shampoo andsoap, (which are a luxury by themselves!) are provided in the shower, andLois does all of our laundry while we bathe. Best of all, the laundry,including the sheets on our beds, are dried outside on the line. That is ansmell that cannot be duplicated!   Clean, dry, and happy, I luxuriated in the idea of a nap. In the middleof the afternoon! I am supposed to be sweating up a mountain, but instead, Iam laying on sweet-smelling sheets with a cool breeze flowing through theroom. This is heaven! :)   Later, Lois made an amazing dinner complete with biscuits, pasta,sun-dried tomato pesto, and baked chicken. Afterwards, curled up on thefloor watching a movie, we enjoyed spice cake and herbal tea. Can life getany better? In all seriousness, Lois and her husband have gone toextraordinary lengths to make there beautiful home into a comfortable,welcoming B&B, and I am honored to be among the thru hikers that have stayedhere.   Tomorrow, Lois is going to slackpack us up the trail to do a full hikingday. The next few days are crammed with special events...Priest Mountain,the Three Ridges, the Tye River, Rustys Hard Time Hollow, and finallyWaynesboro, the gateway to the Shenandoahs. It looks to be a great weekend!Love, Anna aka Mud Buttwww.trailjournals.com------------------------------Local access to PocketMail mobilee-mail now available in Europe, NorthAmerica & Australia http://www.pocketmail.com