Date: 2015-05-03
From: The Place

To: Whitetop Mountain Road
Miles today: 21.9

got out of the shower last night to find that my poison ivy/mystery affliction blister that had popped was oozing what looked like pus. FANTASTIC, right?!I knew that if I had to, I could somehow get a ride to the nearest hospital the next day to get real medicine. I really, REALLY did not want to have to do that.So I played doctor! I peeled off the scab and squeezed out all of that delightful pus. Then I very thoroughly cleaned it with an alcohol swab, making sure every nook and cranny was clean. I squeezed in some antibiotic ointment from my first aid kit (thanks to dad for that one), wrapped a band aid around the sucker, and hoped with all my heart that I wouldn't wake up with a big, swollen green appendage hanging off of my hand. My toes are already gross and nasty-looking. I don't need my fingers to suffer the same fate.As I was preparing to brush my teeth, the man with the bunk across from me introduced himself. His name was "Nurse".What?! Could I be so lucky?! I asked him cautiously, "Are you REALLY a nurse?"He is indeed. He agreed to look at my hands, told me that it could be poison ivy and that it looked like it was on its way out. I was relieved.I slept much better last night. Although there were still snorers, they were not of the earth-shaking variety this time.And when I awoke and pulled back my bandage... no pus! I was free to hit the trail.Today was not my best day, though. I planned to be out until Friday, so Bertha was loaded fit to burst with food. Actually, all of my food didn't even FIT in stupid Bertha. I had to strap my food bag, 1/3 full, to the outside of the pack. I wandered down the trail today looking like a crazy person with a humongous blue tumor.And boy is Bertha HEAVY when she is full. The uphills were extra horrible today.For some reason I started out sad. Maybe anticipating mom and Dan's visit made me extra lonely. Maybe all the junk food is getting to me (it is certainly getting to my butt).So I headed out early as always, feet hurting and back aching. It took me a while to get into the hike.After a few miles, I saw my first bear! It was clearly afraid of me, taking off into the woods.Shortly afterwards, I reached to my rigged hipbelt pocket for my guidebook pages. And they were gone. I went back to look for them. No luck. Frozen Mac passed me, and she hadn't seen them. I have the PDF copy on my phone, but checking it often will drain the battery too quickly. I have my solar charger, but it probably won't be enough. I will need to hit a town or something at some point to charge it.So I wandered unhappily down the trail for a while. The old Virginia Creeper railroad has been converted into a bike path. It intersects with the AT, which follows it for a little while before turning back into the woods.Watching all of the bikers pass me made me miss biking again, which made me think of the Seoul bike paths again, which made me think of Jim, which made me sad. Maybe I will just have to be single forever, a big fat blob of a hiker-nomad (this is inevitable as I am always hungry and always eating) with a blue Bertha tumor and a snotty nose, destined to roam the woods alone.A man with his two teenage children stopped their bikes to talk to me. He asked where I was going. Maine. What about my job? I didn't have one.The questions went on and on. How much did it cost to hike? Did I need help? Did I have friends? How long would it take? Was I religious?I tried to answer them all, and he was very kind and impressed. He got his daughter to take a picture of me standing next to him. It was very strange, but gave me that perspective I always am in need of. I had been sad and lonely, but here I was on my great adventure. I shouldn't be feeling sad, I should be excited to be on the trail.Then I headed back in the woods and saw another bear.I passed Tinkerbell taking a siesta in the afternoon. I should do this more. I hate stopping in the middle of my hike most days. I lose my momentum. I always hear Candace's voice in the back of my head from the day I tried cross-country in high school (I lasted a day), telling me not to stop, because that just makes it harder to start again.Shortly after passing Tinkerbell, I noticed that my blue water bottle was missing. How do I keep losing things?! I curse Bertha and her stupid pockets. I should have gone back to look for it, but was so frustrated with being unable to find a good campsite and so tired from hiking up to Buzzard Rock that I just couldn't bring myself to do it.It was a long day but ended with a beautiful view. I landed a very nice campsite. The sunset was beautiful and the moon is full. And it is past hiker bedtime.I am thankful that my mom sent me her old camera to use since mine is broken. I am thankful that I met that man and his kids. I am not thankful that I am always hungry, because I finally have to face the harsh reality that I am putting on the pizza pounds. Bertha is heavy enough as it is, I don't need five extra pounds of butt fat to carry too.So, Mom and Dan, this weekend, make me eat salad, not pizza. (Hahahaha I will totally change my mind by Friday...)