Date: 2010-06-04
From: Bearfence Mountain Hut

To: Skyland Road
Miles today: 16.1

There's a point in every story where the crossroads meet. A place where the path goes in both directions. Where you have to make a decision to continue or to turn around. The point might be approaching. The place where the lead character must decide to be selfish or to be selfless. I'm familiar with both. You can grit your teeth and shake your fist at the uncontrollable,k but you're spinning your tires. Running in place. The characeter could choose to be thankful and rejoice that the human bond to someone is so strong that vanity, accomplishments, and goals don't matter. I'm familiar with the feeling of regret. Regret hurts worse than failure. When you feel the strings of empathy stretch, you'd be wise to take note. I've spent more time struggling with the choices that I didn't make than the ones that I did. You'll spend more time wishing you would have said something, anything, than not saying anything at all. You can spend yourself in a selfish goal and alienate yourself from your friends, your family and from someone who loves you. You'd spend the rest of your life trying to convience yourself that you did it for their own good, because they'd want you to do it. This is the point where your back is against the wall. If you're reading this Brian, and you're back home, it's okay! The empathy you feel, the selflessness and the compassion towards others is worth more than silver, gold, comfort or an ego trip. You'll regret the things you didn't do, especially for the ones who you love. I believe the coincidences are lining themselves up for us. Your natural response is to jump to conclusions, but hold steady! Keep focused and believe that when the decision arises, you'll make the right choice. You're big enough now to carry the load and meet your obligations. Some of the hardest emotions you deal with are the things you didn't have enough compassion about. Feel that connection and be thankful that you feel it. It means you have a heart and it means that you will choose the right path when that time comes. Keep on! Hold Steady! Everything will be okay!Got to Big Meadows and wanted to call Lish to see how she's feeling. There's a doctor who is sponsering the house she's building and we're hoping the doctor will help her. It's quite the coincidence that this lady enters Lish's life at this moment. Providential if you will. Lish is hanging in there! She's the toughest person I've encountered in years.Food prices here are ridiculous! So much for the theory of only carrying one day worth of food through the Shannies. I'd recommend resupplying in town and avoiding these money pits. Michigan talked to Thin Mint about me coming with them at Skyland for the Trail Angel pick up. She agreed to bring me along! I'm in!Landfill bought a frisbee and we played in the big field beside the Wayside. Hiked behind Thin Mint, Cricket, Michigan, Booboo, and Southpaw. Thunderstorms over took us as we came off the cliffs. We put up the tarp and took refuge together through two waves of heavy rain. We talked about our least favorite movies. Thin Mint interned with a casting company for hollywood movies. She worked on one of the movies that Michigan said was his least favorite. We were watching the clock and knew we'd have to make a run for the Skyland lodge to make it by 6pm. We decided to get wet! It wasn't long before the sound of a wall of rain approached from our left sides. I could hear the lightening crackling right overhead. It was like an entire city's water supply was dumped on me by a falling water tower. It was hard to see 2 feet away. Lightening striked nearby as we see Michigan and Cricket taking cover under a small tree. They took cover but Thin Mint and I had pressed on. I was gently encouraging her with whistling and positive conversations. Got soaking wet! My butt is chaffed. Still having so much fun though. "Rain makes corn. Corn makes whiskey. Whiskey makes my baby, feelin Frisky!" sang Michigan as he sloshed around in the muddy trail behind me. We got to the lodge just in time for the rain to stop and the sun to come out. We walked into the black tie affair like wet smelly dogs. I went inside to pee and dry my face off.We called Mrs. Luke to pick us up. I put on my last dry clothes because I'd gotten chilly. Mrs. Luke picked us up and drove us to her home. Skyland Drive is a hard road to take in a truck rolling downhill with 4 smelly hikers. Mrs. Luke is an attorney in Sperryville, VA. She's from a military family that lived all over the world. Her husband, Peter, likes to ride his bicycle all over the world. Peter is the DA for Rappahannock county. Peters father was also in the military.Mrs. Luke stopped at her local grocery store and we all went inside. The food selection was of a higher quality than I had anticipated. There aren't any chain stores or franchises here. I love it! The people here are mostly long time residents or Washington DC weekenders. She's a real estate lawyer also. They realized the money making potential of real estate by performing mortage closings and wills. She pointed to a pre-civil war building that had been converted into a hotel and said that they had sold it recently.When we arrived at the house we were so excited! Red wood siding with yellow scales in the peaks. Green metal roof. We all stripped off our wet socks and shoes and stepped into the most amazing house! I far removed shelter from what we've become accustom to. I noticed the view from the multitude of windows in the house first. The sun was already setting and the blue curvy mountain ridges in the distance were all cowering beneath heavy, dark clouds pregnant with thunder, lightening and rain. The kitchen table was covered in fruit, strawberries, potatoe salad, spinach, lasagna, and barbequed chicken (fresh off the grill!). With large eyed looks and water wrinkled hands we filled our plates. We sat on the screened in back porch and ate while the Luke family and a few friends asked us questions. We told stories with our mouthes full of their wonderful food! Watching the light show outside made me so thankful for their generocity. We'd come a long ways from our conditions this afternoon in the storm. The breeze blowing through the porch windows felt so amazing and hearing the Luke family laughter and gasping at our stories made me feel so proud. They said, "We didn't expect you guys to be so normal!" We all had seconds, thirds, and I had fourths. Then desert! Apple pie, chocolate cake, brownies, milk and ice cream! After dinner, Mr and Mrs. Luke went to bed and we went to the pool for a swim! They also had a hot tub! I jumped into the pool first, then got into the hot tub. I gave the best seat to Thin Mint. She's the reason why we're here. Her friend was a waiter in New Orleans. Thin Mint's friend told Mrs. Luke about her journey and she decided to host the thru-hikers for a night.We talked to Ben, their son about his college experiences and plans for the future. He's interested in becoming an attorney, but he's made progress in the real estate business on his own. He's a very bright, happy young man who seems to be very outgoing despite his lack of neighbors or children his age. He's very friendly for such a small town atmosphere. Credit his parents for his well rendering!We stayed up late and I jumped into the pool again. Laying on my back in the pool on the float, I looked up into the starless night sky and felt guilty. I couldn't feel that good about my conditions here when I knew back home Lish wasn't feeling well. I couldn't feel that good. My heart and mind are back in Durham. My whole journey hinges on the next couple of days. I almost felt like I didn't deserve this treatment. I'm thankful for this however. I just don't feel like I should feel that good tonight. Laying on the water made me think of the sea. Made me think of Lish's other life aboard the sailboat. I hope she knows that I'm going to be there for her no matter what kind of storm comes.I took a shower and listened to Booboo and Ben playing video games. I gave up sleeping on the bed and couch. I'm familiar with sleeping on leather couches and sweating up a lather on the thing. I chose to sleep on the floor beside the piano. I must seem pretty strange to the Luke's. Oh well. I slept fantastic!Thanks to the Luke Family! You guys are fanastic people!