Date: 2005-06-26
From: October Mountain Lean-To

To: Dalton
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: haze

Shamrock Village Inn, Room 16DaltonLate last evening we were joined by Shurley, whose painful arrival had been forecast by Blaze, who sprinted away to the north. She reminded me at once of Slow Barbara when I first met her. She was laboring under an extremely heavy pack ¢ 50 pounds+ we learnt- and was not in the best physical condition herself. She had just started NOBO that day, with the intention of going all the way to Katahdin, as a semisponsered walk for ALS ¢ which had afflicted a close relative. She was pretty beat, and had managed less that 1 MPH for the day. Shades of Slow Barbara!   The night turned out to be the ¢feast of the bugs¢. This was the worst attack of mosquitoes and deer flies that I have ever had. Peg Leg swore he would kill every one that landed on him, but his efforts made no impact on the hoard. I spent the night huddled in my bag to protect me from the beasts, until the heat drove me out of the bag and then it was a matter of time before the bugs drove me back in, and the cycle repeated! These little guys had no problem in biting through my nylon shirt and pants so, even though I was fully covered except for my face and hands, I still was not safe from the onslaught.   Started out early into another H-H-H day. A smooth trail down to West Branch Road and on to Washington Mountain Road, where I had to resist the urge to visit with The Cookie Lady. I plodded on with visions of Dalton dancing in my head. It was a rather marshy and swampy ¢ and buggy ¢ hike to Kay Woods Lean-To where, despite lots of water I could feel my energy sagging in the heat and the humidity. The last effort of the day was over Day Mountain ¢ which on a normal ¢day¢ would not be difficult but at the end of a H-H-H day was hard. I looked in vain for a glimpse of Barrett Hill to the east, but was denied by the dense forest.      Finally down here to Dalton, where Tom Levardi has a sign in his front yard welcoming AT hikers. A hot hike through town brought me here to the Inn, where the ¢No Vacancy¢ sign made me thankful for my reserved room. When I checked in I was told that a lady hiker in Room 8 had left a message for me. It turned out to be ¢ Shurley! After she had hiked to the Cookie Lady¢s house, she decided to hitch a ride on here to Dalton, because she had developed a large blister on her back from the friction with her backpack. We had a meal together and then she went through her bag and dumped out a bunch of stuff ¢ including an axe! ¢ that I will mail back home for her in the morning.      She still intends to continue on north in the morning, and we spent some time talking ¢Slow Walking Strategies¢ I wish her all the best, and take comfort in how well Slow Barbara did last year under very similar circumstances.   Spoke with KT on the landline in my room ¢ spotty cell reception here.   Although not a day for thinking deep thoughts ¢ except for the desire for an ice cold Diet Coke ¢ I went over the discussion with Peg Leg again in my mind. I realy enjoy the give and take of a good philosophical discussion, in large part because it helps me clarify ¢ and frequently modify ¢ my own thinking by viewing my position through the eyes of another.Thought for today ¢   What is the point in engaging in a discussion, unless the parties are willing to modify their positions?