Date: 2017-10-06
To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

10/6Laurel Creek Shelter, tenting13.8 milesI didn't wake up until Doodlebug turned on the lights. I was tired. Despite the male opinion about how yesterday should have been so easy, I could feel fatigue dragging at my muscles. I briefly considered taking today off, but a blowhard was opining on pretty much everything, and I couldn't tolerate a day of that. I was slow to get ready and I'm pretty sure the guy waiting to take the same shuttle as me was annoyed, but he didn't say anything. We left the hostel a little after eight. I very nearly forgot to donate - I had to run back in to put money in the box. The hostel was bare bones. It did the job, but as one big room plus a bathroom there was minimal privacy. The bathroom had a sign on the door instructing us to pee outside on the grass. The toilet was only for solids. I had some issues with this. For one thing there were houses on either side of the hostel. For another their flock of chickens meant that an unwary step would result in gross shoes. Also, people who menstruate need more in the way of sanitary facilities than people who don't - a condition which I suspect never crossed the mind of the sign writer. At any rate, I got back on the trail headed south. Switching from northbound to southbound had already discombobulated my sense of direction. My one day of northbound slackpacking completely unmoored my frame of reference. The cardinal points are not instinctive for me at the moment. I am literally visualizing a compass while trying to figure out what is where. I'm consistently getting it wrong in conversation, which is annoying for both me and anybody to whom I'm trying to convey information. I hope my brain sorts it out soon. I reached the first shelter in under two miles. A man was asleep beside the trail within sight of the shelter. His clothes were draped on bushes and his bare feet stuck out. I wondered what his story was. Loud snorer in the shelter? Night hiking and gave up on finding the shelter? I left him sleeping as I passed. At the top of Sinking Creek mountain I felt a sharp pain and looked down to find dozens of little devil forks stuck in my legs. I don't know what kind of plant they came from, but they were tenacious. The tines were barbed and released my legs reluctantly. Several broke off in my pants or possibly in my thighs. I hope nothing festers. I ate the last of my baguette and Brie for lunch. The baguette was just starting to get stale, but it still tasted good. I'm impressed with the Brie. It was in log form, which apparently travels very, very well. I've never seen it before, but I will definitely buy it again if I see it. I was ready for today to end far before it did, having started already tired. It was hot out, which is always draining. My emotions were apparently set on spin, as well. I eventually started listening to music, which helped. And the evening sunlight lit up the forest to maximum beauty. It's hard to hold onto a bad mood when that happens. Also I passed the Keffer Oak today. I admired it, then placed a hand on its massive trunk and closed my eyes. It carried a feeling of immense stability and peace. I patted it and walked on. I carried two liters of water the last three miles in case there wasn't water at the shelter, but there was. I got another liter since I could, and immediately downed most of it. I made sure to eat dinner so I would have my best opportunity to feel good tomorrow. The meal was supposed to be Pad Thai. It bore virtually no resemblance to that dish, but fortunately it tasted good anyway. I chatted with section hikers, one of whom actually recognized me from this journal! That hadn't happened before. They're getting off the trail tomorrow and gave me some food. I have a very full bag so I didn't want much, but I accepted some drink mix and some spices. At least for now, I always want more salt. Tomorrow I have scheduled to be even longer than today. Help. I'm not sure if I'm an optimist or an idiot.