Date: 2006-04-29
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: clear sky

Great day, a good accomplishment. I woke up and did the 6 miles into Troutdale and got to the post office before the Saturday Morning closing time. I spent a few hours on gear, food resupply and lunch. I got back to the trailhead and hiked 16 more miles. Not an easy day, but a satisfying one.I hitched into town with Chow Chow and Hind's Feet. They spotted another hiker they know called Oh2Bee Hiking. Ohtobee for short. We all needed the post office, one of the few buildings in a town of 200 people.Ohtobe had been staying for the past couple of days at another church run hostel. Whereas The Place in Damascus was a converted house, the hostel was more like a shed with 2 rooms and no furniture. Glad I had no plans to stay. Way too many hostels in too short a time.The Trading Post is the only place in town to eat and food shop. It may be the only business in town. It's a diner with a small store at the back. I got most of what I needed though. I had 2 dirt cheap burgers and a big salad to fill my vegetable quota. I also had 2 chocolate milks and a banana satisfying two of my usual cravings. Sadly there was no Orange Crush to satisfy the third. I think Pepsi owns the whole south. There is only Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper in any store or diner. The place in Damascus had ice cream floats but only made with any of those three beverages.Back at the trailhead I bumped into Homeward, Park Bench, LunchBox and Cupcake. I'd been hoping to find these guys but figured I'd missed them while in town. Today is Cupcake's birthday and they planned on pushing all the way through to Partnership Shelter, a 24 mile day for them and a 20 for me. Even though I hadn't planned that distance they said I should be there. It was only another 14 miles.I sailed over those 14 miles. The high kicked in. I got in a rhythm and just pumped up and churned down every hill. The sun hit green grass and groves just right and fed into the flow. As the sun disappeared I cruised into a long, dark rhododendron tunnel, the last 1/2 mile. I expected the shelter after each bend. When I saw the orange light from the fire I knew I Was home.Big group the all calling boulder as I walked in. It was a party. Hui yelled check the cooler. I looked and my hopes were dashed when there was only beer and no Orange Crush. Orange is what I crave. Homeward, Cupcake, Park Bench and Lunchbox all pulled in after dark. Folks already around the fire were Crake, Teddy Ruxpin, Shenanigans, Hui, Bill E Goat, Old Goat, Sanford and Leprechaun. Most of them had been there since noon. Partnership is a famous shelter because there is a hot shower and a phone at the visitors center. Local pizza place delivers to the gate.Nope, there is no good pizza in the south. I got what tasted like a flat cracker with melted cheese on top. There was a faint red stain in between cheese and crust that must have been sauce. Hard to tell. And again, only Pepsi products. Pizza aside it was a nice night. Beer was flowing but it never got obnoxious, just friendly. Good to see folks i know and to match names to faces of people I didn't know.Good trail day.