Date: 2003-05-24
From: Alex Kennedy Shelter 

To: Darlington Shelter 
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: light rain

Aloha! Boy Heidi are my dogs tired! Dogs, calves, legs, hips, back, arms, and possibly even head. It's been a long but awesome day. I'll tell you about it if you won't yell at me too much about the distance thing. Promise? Thanks.   I realize that by now you've noticed that I went a wee bit further than my original self-imposed 10-mile limit. I know, I know, I know. No lectures. This day has been planned since the beginning but I figured I'd surprise you. Aren't I nice? Anyway, the reason for the no-no distance is due to the no camping requirement between the 2 shelters on either side of Boiling Springs - 18.2 miles. Well, there is a campsite right outside of Boiling Springs but everyone, and I mean everyone, has said to stay out of the tick infested site next to the railroad tracks. That was enough for me. I was heading on through and did.   I was up and out before 8a and hiking the good hike. Through the rain, the farmer's fields, and the woods I went. It was a lovely hike, rain or no rain. I rolled into Boiling Springs with Gaylan (met up with along the trail) drenched but happy. Next time I'm going to put on rain gear though.. maybe. First and only stop in town was the ATC Regional Hqs where the very pleasant and gracious Super Mom Mary met us. After saying hello her first offering was a cup of coffee. My heroine! A steaming hot cup of coffee. She was a demi-goddess in my eyes. The second offering was the restroom -- now a full-blown goddess! She was also a delight to chat with. Since Super Mom has completed the whole AT herself she definitely understands the needs of long distance hikers. She's a true goddess to this gal!   After spending far too much time chill'n, swing'n and chat'n with Bono, Lion Cub, Gaylan and Super Mom it was time to get on the trail. Perfect timing, just like the day I started, the rain stopped. Meant to be!   The rest of the day was what I'm calling my inner and outer thigh workday. I slipped and slid through the next 12 miles. If I wasn't slipping and sliding I was trying to pull my foot out of the boot sucking mud. I swear that if you hesitated but a moment too long the mud would take your boot right off your foot. Really! I'm not lying! There was also upper bodywork. That came after pressing so hard on your hiking sticks to pull your foot out that your sticks then became stuck requiring all your upper body strength to pull them out! It was definitely a workout kind of day. Patti, my former trainer, would be so proud!   Besides hiking along with Gaylan for part of the day, alone for a part and with Bono and Lion Cub for another part, that was pretty much the sum of my day. The sun actually tried to peek through for a brief moment at around 4p but didn't quite succeed. No problem though, with a misty kind of day and temps in the 50s it was perfect for 18 plus miles. Could even have been colder! Now that's a first!   Tonight I am in the shelter (yes, I'm sheltering again and will probably continue to do so until it either stops raining or the ground dries - too messy!) with Bono, Lion Cub, Gaylan and a newcomer, Buttercup. Nice young gal.   Buttercup is one of the high mileage hikers. By high mileage I'm meaning the 28-mile day type hiker. An average day is above 20 for her. Don't I wish! Oh but to be young again!   The conversations have been wide and diverse but entertaining. Enjoyable folks. It's been worth the shelter stay! Another first!   Well folks, I have another long day tomorrow so I'm closing down early. Must get my beauty sleep before hiking my 7, yes 7, miles to the next shelter. Did my 2 big days for the moment, time to rest the legs. Aren't you proud of me? I am!   Oh wait, I've been meaning to tell you that if you want a different version of the trail, Bono also has a journal here on trailjournals.com. It will be quite different since he started on 28 Dec and has taken many side trips along the way. Lucky guy! I was just informed that Buttercup also has a journal here but it's listed under her first trail name of Red. Check them out - totally different view of my world.   One other thing that I forgot to mention yesterday. I ran into a southbound section hiker named Chase. I've often seen Chase's name on a ton of things in the AT-List on the Internet. He's one of the lighter weight type hikers. Another nice guy. (Aren't they all?) It was nice to put a face to the name.   Okay, that really is it. I'm actually yawning. You folks take care and we'll get together tomorrow night. I always enjoy our get-togethers. Aloha!BS&T: last two miles of a basically flat day were UP a steep mountain. Yes, there was sweat!A&Ps: besides the inner and outer thigh workout (much needed) my right Achilles tendon is a bit sore. Nothing that a bit of stretching won't cure I'm sure.M&Gs: industrial strength vacuum sucking mud! Waah!