Date: 2003-08-03
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Date: 8.3.03Starting Location: Dick's Dome ShelterDestination: Rod Hollow ShelterMileage: 9.9   Did you ever read "The Hobbit"? Remember the part where Frodo and theDwarves are in Mirkwood Forest and they end up in the lair of the spiders?Well, I was there today! The forest was old and dense, although notterriblydark, and everything was wet and mossy. I looked out through the woodsandsaw puffs of gray cotton candy everywhere. Spider webs. Big, huge ones!Ihave no clue what kind of spider built them, but there must be agazzillionof them, and it was obvious that this was their domain, not mine! Whileitwas quite cool looking, it was also a bit disconcerting, and for the nexttwo miles, I just put my head down and hiked!   Well, that was the beginning of my hike today, and after a low morning,things took a decided upswing! But, first, I had to survive the morning! Iwoke up on the edge of a blue funk, knowing that I just did not want to behere. Bumpkin wisely gave me lots of space, and headed off down the trail. Icouldn't for the life of me figure out what was wrong, though. As Ihiked,tears mixed with the sweat pouring down my face as I grappled with mynew-found moodiness. Finally, giving up on the idea of productive thought, Ipulled out my radio and tuned in to some distraction in the form of NPR. The next few miles went by quickly, and as I toiled up the mountains inthe 100% humidity, I felt my spirits picking up. The trail has a way ofdoing that....it beats you senseless til you sweat out all your worries!:)As I neared the road crossing where Bumpkin was waiting for me to havelunch, Tom, or Paunch as he was called during his 2001 thru hike, camesailing by. We had camped with him for the last couple of nights, and asalways, it was nice to see a familiar face come by. I hiked on up to theroad and upon seeing me, Bumpkin said, "Let's go get some BarBQ". Youcouldhave knocked me over with a feather! This was just a plain, ole roadcrossing! No store, no restaurant....or so I thought! I looked at her andhollered, "Sweeeeeeet Teeeeaaaa!!".Turns out that there is a restaurant cum convience store .8 of a mile downthe road. With Paunch by our side, we immediately started walking downthehighway. Five minutes later a man driving a van pulled over and offeredusa ride. When we explained where we were going, he said, "Yeah, I figuredthat...I am the owner of the restaurant!".Docs BBQ.....here we come!! :)   The three of us sat down to wonderful home-made BBQ with big glasses ofsweet tea, followed by slices of home-made cake. The family that isoperating the place had just purchased it a year ago and are planning onputting in a hiker hostel next year. They are warm, kind people and I hopethat they are wildly successful!   After filling up, John, the owner, graciously offered to drive us backupto the trail. With full bellies, and happy spirits, we hiked on to ourdestination for the night. While I was sitting in the restaurant, I waslistening to Bumpkin relate a story about my brother hiking with us. Ithitme like a ton of bricks. I am homesick. That is what has been botheringme!This is officially the longest I have gone without seeing my family foroverten years, and it stinks!! Bumpkin, it turns out, is pretty homesick, too.We agree that it will pass, but for the time being, we will be each othersfamily. I can live with that.   The rest of the hike went qucikly thanks to my old friend NPR, and astwilight began to deepen, I walked into the shelter. Tom and Bumpkin werealready there, and the three of us passed the rest of the evening talkingand laughing. I am amazed at how much the three of us have in common justbecause of the AT. I don't know when or how it hapened, but myexperienceshave placed me squarely in the middle of the long distance backpackingcommunity. Man, it sure feels good to be here! :)I finally head for my tent and listen to the insects rev up for the night.Lightening bugs are still trying to fight their way into my tent, but fornow, the screen is holding.Good night......Love, Anna aka Mud Buttwww.trailjournals.com------------------------------Local access to PocketMail mobilee-mail now available in Europe, NorthAmerica & Australia http://www.pocketmail.com