Date: 2004-05-26
From: Brushy Mountain Campsite

To: Wood's Hole Hostel
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: light rain

The peaceful ambiance of the evening remained as I crawled out of my humble abode this morning. The woods were void of all human noise allowing the songs of the birds to permeate the air uninterrupted. Unfortunately, even out here there are tasks to be completed and a goal to be attained by day's end. So, shortly after I disturbed the peace, my trailmates started rousting themselves out. An hour later, wet tents packed, breakfast eaten and the usual ughs and ouches uttered as we crammed feet into boots yet again, we headed northward towards Maine.Our first destination was Wapiti Shelter where we intended to have lunch, a mere 10 miles. According to my calculations I should have been there about 12:30. About noon I saw a sign giving mileage to Doc's Knob Shelter as 6.1. My handbook said the two shelters were 8.4 miles apart, meaning somehow I had missed the first shelter and I was hiking way too fast. Common sense told me April Showers and Ursa Minor were at Wapiti having lunch so I paused at a fork in the road under a gorgeous sunny sky, found myself a midday snack and waited for them. Fifteen minutes later April Showers hiked up the hill asking if she had missed the shelter! Now, April Showers hiked this section two years ago and so far has had excellent recall. I didn't feel so silly missing Wapiti if she also missed it. The scenario repeated itself three more times as Big Tree, Ursa Minor and Blue appeared. So it seemed as though we all passed by with blinders on!The morning had drizzled some moisture on us but we thought we had seen the end of the rain for the day. April Showers and I decided it was safe to change into dry socks. My wet socks were packed, dry socks lying out, pack half emptied, boots off and all of a sudden the skies opened and dumped on us properly. I just stood there barefooted, with a kerchief over my head, looking stupid. It just didn't let up so I finally threw things back together as best I could and moved out. Half a mile further guess where we were - Wapiti Shelter!! The sign was wrong; my calculations had been accurate. Fifteen minutes more and we'd have stayed dry.Ah, but there's always something marvelous out here to counter the less than comfortable. April Showers shushed us as we were aproaching. A short distance into the woods stood a mama doe and a tiny spotted fawn, barely stable on its short spindly legs. They were in no hurry to get out of sight; we enjoyed their beauty for several minutes. Then it was back to the "less than comfortable". Fortunately we were in the valley when the thunder resumed. Most of the rain held off until we reached Wood's Hole Hostel. What a pleasant sight Tillie's place was. And one hour later when the real hard wind stirred up and the buckets of rain and hail were falling, we were safely under a roof drying out.We spent the rest of the evening in the great company of Big Tree and Blue. After supper, Kava tea (thanks Meghan!), candy bars and foot massages, conversation with Neville (Tillie's granddaughter), we tucked ourselves into bed in the loft on soft mattresses. What a marvelous home for a night.It's been quite an exciting day topped off by a large dose of comic relief as Big Tree attempted to dodge the attacks of the big bad bat in our sleeping quarters! We girls got it out for him so he could get a decent night's sleep.