Date: 2004-04-08
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 9.4

At 5:30 I've showered, raided the hikers' grab box (other hikers' leftovers or drops because of weight issues), sorted my first maildrop, and put my supper in water to dehydrate. So far I'm the only resident. Owner Gary is ending a day of working a plot of soil for his organic garden making me long to be in my own patch. I will miss my summer gardening very much this year. Lennie is doing my laundry. I'm loafing, lying in their backyard between the silhouettes of these incredible Georgia mountains. Two donkeys are braying in an enclosed area 20 feet from me, birds are singing, two cats are lounging around and I'm counting my blessings. It doesn't get much better than this!Good news update on the knee: no pain at all this morning. The inflammation must have receded completely overnight. I forced myself to keep a slower pace but still averaged two mph in spite of my efforts to slow. It was a glorious day for a hike, but then every day has been thus far. We had a few spits of rain overnight and the morning was delightfully overcast and cool. About 1 p.m. a soft gentle rain began, enough for me to put my pack's raincover on. But I knew I'd be stopping soon and so left my own raingear packed. A steep descent from Blue Mountain once again reminded me of my injured knee.At Unicoi Gap, Dave and Lindsay were heading home and gave me their leftover trail mix -- thanks ever so much!! Sarah and Arthur had met up with Mary and support vehicle. We all enjoyed their generosity of hot or cold beverage, had a Kodak moment, and a few rousing laughs. Bob (now Badger) was heading into Hiawassee as was I so we grabbed a ride with Mary. Unfortunately, I sent them six miles out of the way because I didn't have precise directions, but they were glad to oblige. Bless them. I fell about an hour behind the little group with whom I was leap-frogging, but I felt it necessary to pamper this knee. Trust me, once the danger of pain or re-injury is past, I'll catch up with them. Now, with time to spare, let me share some of my belief system and spiritual experience with you. I believe in God, I believe in angels, I believe in spiritual guides, I believe in the power of the mind, I believe in spiritual distant and hands-on healing, I believe in the power of love. I believe God is pure love and each of us is a manifestation of that love. I believe in miracles. With that said, let me share with you some intimate details of my thoughts and actions yesterday. The most crucial issue of course has been this knee and a bit of pain in the upper, inner right thigh. Firstly, I acknowledged that the injury probably was needed - most likely to slow my pace from the beginning. I know myself well enough to know I'd be the "pace-setter". My thought wasn't, but might have been something like this: "You might be 24, 28, 32 years old, but I'm XX years young, and a woman. Watch me and marvel!". (I just felt the earth tilt as all my friends are nodding their heads in agreement.) This attitude of course is quite ridiculous and there is no room for it out here.So, first the acceptance, then the mind/faith healing. Bless Fran, she gave me three prescription Motrin for the pain. I didn't want to take them except as a last resort. They are still in my pocket. All morning yesterday I pictured the loving hands of God massaging that leg and knee. I called upon the healing saints asking for their help. Knowing that God can and does heal and that God is pure love, I sang all the tunes I could think of about love, making up my own lyrics to fit the scenario. The leg pain dissipated quickly; the knee bothered me only minutely on the downhills and only sporadically. (Maybe it was because I was laughing so much at my effort to make rhymes my attention was diverted? LOL) I came upon a fist-sized rock in the middle of the path that was glittering in the sunlight. It was begging me to pick it up. I did and held it against my knee for a while. The knee warmed and I felt relief. On my last incline I came upon a grouping of 8-10 gleaming white rocks. They laid at the base of a tree and were radiant with sunlight. With the onset of the Christian Easter close at hand I thought of the bright and pure whiteness of Jesus' resurrection at the tomb. Again, I paused beside this moment of natural beauty and asked for healing energy from these ancient rocks. And again, I felt warmth and no pain. Perhaps it was the sunlight and the momentary rest? Perhaps it was my mindset wanting to believe in a miracle? Or perhaps indeed it was a powerful holy healing energy in the rock. Regardless, relief was mine and now I'm singing tunes of thanks. And on that note my day's hike neared an end, blissfully, peacefully, and pain-free!