Date: 2003-07-16
From: Dripping Rock

To: Three Ridges Overlook
Miles today: 4.9

You know, sometimes you have one of those days.....rollercoaster days. The kind that go up and down so quickly that you don't even see the changes coming! Well, this has been one of those days! It started out beautifully. Bumpkin had an interview with a reporter who was writing a story about her hike, so I had breakfast and went to run some errands. The morning flew by as I hit the gas station, grocery store, visitors center, etc.   You would be amazed at how much a hiker has to do in town! One would think that we could relax for the day, but nope! At the bare minimum there is the trip to the grocery store, doing your laundry, two trips to the post office, (one to pick up mail, and one later, to mail stuff out), and cleaning out your pack to later re-pack it.   It takes an extraordinary amount of time!! Speaking of post offices and extraordinary.....when I got to the post office in Waynesboro, I picked up my box of supplies, and the postal worker kept coming out with all these boxes! I had five care packages sent to me by different friends!!!   Can you imagine?! I was blown away, and so touched that these people would take time out of their busy day to do something like this for me! Burt's Bees, granola bars, heath foods, beef jerky, cheese,....the list of treats goes on and on! My thanks go out to you all!   How did you know that I was starting to feel a little homesick? and that I was feeling removed from all my friends? As the summer goes on, I get less email from people...the trip has lost some of its newness and excitement for not only me, but for the people living it vicariously.   But all of your kindness lifted my spirits so much! Thank you a thousand times! So it was that we prepared to head back to the trail, and I was happy and content! I was ready to hike! Dr. Anderson, the president of the Rotary Club, came to pick us up with the intention of shuttling us to the trail. Well, several errands and a lot of laughter later, we were driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway. We were almost to our stop when Dr. Anderson asked where we were going to eat lunch.   After explaining to him that we were going to eat a bagel on the trail, we found ourselves speeding back to town to a restaurant! It seems that Dr. Anderson was not going to accept the 'bagel for lunch' idea! :) Two hours later, we were back at the trail ready to head off. The look of consternation on Dr. Andersons face was both touching and comical as he eyed the small opening in the trees we were about to enter. This was the second gentleman that had delivered us to the trail only to have second thoughts about leaving us!   As before, however, we knew exactly where we were going and off we went. I hated to see Dr. Anderson go, however, he is a true trail angel! My spirits were high as we hiked down the path. Then Bumpkin turned around and said, "You know, Dr. Anderson was really worried about your weight....he thinks you are going to damage your knees". Just like that, my spirits sank. Back home, I realize that we live in a world that sees a persons weight and apearance before anything else, but out here I really thought things were different! I go days, even weeks, forgtting that I am overweight!   I assume that when people see me out here, they see me...Anna, thru-hiker, woman, person. Well, obviously, I was wrong. I said as much to Bumpkin, and she started back-peddling furiously. She wasn't trying to hurt my feelings, but the damage was done.   I hiked alone for the next several hours, thinking about this. After a good, long time of feeling both self-righteous and sorry for myself, it hit me.....Bumpkin has a saying, "when you remove blame, you are left with self-examination". So, I stopped blaming for a few seconds and took some time for self-examination. Here is what I came up with....I am overweight..that may or may not change as a result of this hike, regardless, it is a fact. Each person in the world can see me, and define me, however they wish. However, what matters is how I see myself. I will not be defined by my weight. It is a part of me, but by no means all of me. It will not define this hike, or my place in this world. End of discussion. Then, all of the sudden...I felt better! :) Spirits back in place, I began to notice the trail. It was rocky!!! Now I know that you are tired of hearing about all of the rocks, but....these were bad! Little, big, in between, stuck up on their ends, and.....this is the worst part....some of them move!!! There is nothing more disconcerting than stepping from one big giant rock to another one, just to have it tilt violently to one side under your feet!Well, needless to say, it was a hike in which my full concentration was needed! The trail was fairly level, though, and in many places, everything up to the trail was covered in kudzu. Now, I know that this is a destructive plant, but I do love the way it looks! You would look out off of the trail, and every rock and tree as far as you can see looks like a green statue made of kudzu.   It is really cool! As we came out onto the Parkway, we decided to head for Rusty's. I have dreamed of going there for ten years, and the time has finally come! Wish us luck finding it, as we have no clue where we are going!! However, with any luck, the next entry will be coming to you from Rusty's Hard Time Hollow!