Date: 2016-06-23
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: The Captain's
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up this morning at 6:00 am and had a light breakfast to get out before the Boy Scouts (20 of them at the shelter last night). It was dark out from all the storm clouds. I was a couple hours into my hike when all hell broke loose - fierce winds, tons of rain, lightning and thunder. Luckily the Lightning was at least "ten-one-thousand" away, but I was still pretty freaked out to be walking on an exposed ridge line! I ran during the parts where I felt exposed and tried to stay in the trees as much as possible.So much for my newly-moleskinned feet...I got drenched. But my feet didn't hurt, so there's that.At a certain point I met up with Stitch, who had popped into the shelter briefly the night before, after he'd finished 3 liters of boxed wine on the hike up. When I asked him why he drank so much, he said, quite practically, "It was heavy."Stitch had been sleeping in his hammock when the storm hit and the winds were so strong they were blowing the tarp away from him. We hiked together for a while, until we got to the uphill portions where I slow down.Stitch told me he hikes "like the government" - moves fast and then waits around for a long time.Along the trail today I briefly met Camelot and Sunrunner (who were listening to Harry Potter audiobooks) and AP (Accident Prone), who manages to fall at least once every day. I like her a lot. She and Stitch and I ended up at the Captain's together tonight. Right before the Pine Swamp shelter (indoor fireplace!) I scared a bear that had been on the trail in front of me! Actually, we scared each other. I didn't expect a bear when Stitch and the couple had just passed through ahead of me. But there she was, set off loping down the trail like an enormous fuzzy rocking horse. But that wasn't all - she went off running away, but something else came running in my direction! A cub!!The little guy scrambled immediately up a tree to my right. Sooo cute! But at the same time, I was freaking out because I didn't want to be between mama and baby. But what could I do? I clacked my poles and kept my eyes on the trees as I continued.So now, the Captain's. This place is fantastic! He got his name for his resemblance to Captain Kangaroo (hence the kangaroo on his AT stamp). He's retired and owns this lovely property on the banks of Stony Creek, across from the AT.10 years ago, he built this zipline / pulley system that hikers could use to cross the river to his property! And he lets hikers tent on the lawn and offers free sodas on his back porch. Can you believe it? He's such a fixture that he's in the AT guides.I got to chat with him for a while and really enjoyed it. He also has two fluffy dogs.Stitch was making Spam for lunch and shared some with me - which I wrapped up in tortillas, sprinkled with Tanya's dried broccoli bits. Yum! Salty goodness after a rough day.I should sleep well tonight. Bears won't come near because of the dogs. I know (and like) the people around me and the river sounds amazing.Had a convo with Stitch earlier about trail names. He mentioned that every year some guy takes the name "Dirty Girl" and leaves flirty notes in the logs to mess with pink blazers (guys following female hikers hoping to get lucky). Tomorrow I will pass the 100 mile mark for this trip!