Date: 2003-05-04
From: Hogback Ridge

To: Sam's Gap
Miles today: 2.6

start Hogback Ridge Shelterdestination Sam's GapI woke up early this am, and fixed a quick breakfast.I am anxious to get to Erwin. I smell bad, my clothes smell bad, and I need my mail drop. After I went to bed last night, I contemplated the day's events. I knew that there was a lesson there for me. I just wanted to learn it and all that the Lord has for me in it. I realized that even though I was on the trail, and could see the blazes, it was not the right way. The blazes were faint, but they were there just the same. I thought that I was on the right trail. But I was not. So many people think that they are on the right trail to God. Some of the signs they see seem to be right and they think it is the right way. It even seems to feel right, but it is not the true way. I thought I was on the right trail, based on my feelings and loose observations, but upon closer inspection, I realized that I had gotten off the right trail. I then had to go back to where I knew I was on the right path. Back to the place where it was clear to me that I was headed in the right direction. It is not enough to get on the right path and then aimlessly wander, hoping that you will not miss any turns, or take any unnessessary detours. It takes paying attention and regularly evaluating the path to assure that it is taking you where you want to go. You cannot wander aimlessly along and then at the end find you have missed the way. It is our resposibility as Christians to stay on the right path, not only for ourselves but to show others the way, even if it is just by example.There will be times that we will need to take someone by the hand and guide them along, gently showing them the right path. And there will be times that we will need to share with people that the path they have chosen is not the true way,or the best way.That is when the we need to let the Holy Spirit lead us,less we send them away by our attitude. I am just heading down the blue blaze trail back to the trail,when I look up and there came PushingUpDaisies hoofing it down the trail as fast as her legs would go!She had found her camera.Not in the rental car as she thought,but in a bag with her bagels.So she had hiked a lot of miles to catch up with me.Had things went as I had planned for yesterday,she would have got up with me. It was a short hike out to the roadat Sam's Gap,and it did not take us long.PushingUpDaisies wanted to wait for Loser,to let him know she had found her camera.He had prayed with her the morning she and Maledrop dropped me off. He was very excited for her and shared hugs. PushingUpDaisies and I walked across the highway and took our pictures at the Tenn.State Line.There was a rest area just past the state line.The only vehicles there were a semi truck and a motorhome pulling a vehicle.A few minutes later we are riding down the highway in a 2001 34foot RV.It was by far the classiest ride we have had to date.He was from Virginia and was headed back home from a fishing trip.I am sure he was wondering how in the world he got wrangled into giving a couple smelly hikers a ride into town.I was afraid to even sit down,so I grabbed a foot stool that was handy.He let us off right at the Holiday Inn Express. There was a A & W Rootbeer next store,so lunch consisted of fish and chicken with several cold rootbeers.Topped off with a rootbeer float.MMMnnnnnnnnn.   I called around to several churchs,and got a ride to church tonight,then the pastor gave us a ride to the Chinese Restaurent after church.He and his wife wouldn't join us though.(They weren't Baptist!). We walked back up to the hiker hostel ran by Miss Janet to see if my maildrop had come in.She was gone and no box,so we got a ride back to the motel,returned phones calls,checked out the hot tub one more time,then watched the weather channel to get the scoop on the weather.It does not look very promising,unless you like rain.There were 62 tornadoes in the midwest,and that storm was heading right for us.In fact rain is forecast for all week with the worst weather being tomorrow. I was planning to slack pack a 19 miler tomorrow,but I find a Rotary Club in Johnson City that I could make on Monday night so my plans change.I will slack a 8 mile section,get a ride to Johnson City for Rotary,and finally head out on Tues for Hampton,Tn.It will mean one less night of sleeping in the rain,and then carrying a wet tent.It will mean some higher miles though to be in Hampton to meet Jerry on Saturday, but I think I am up to it.total miles 2.6