Date: 2010-05-07
From: Troutdale

To: Partnership
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

Hot in the Baptist Church hostel bunkhouse! Gave up early and camped out under the front porch. I could hear Ratman howling through the walls. Him and Wizard were snoring like a chorus of foghorns. 6 Course said, "I woke up in the middle of the night just to make sure there wasn't a wild animal in the room, then I realized it was Ratman, and just went back to sleep". They're use to it by now. The snoring. Watched planes fly through what seemed like outer space. Wished on 3 falling stars. Bet you can't guess what I wished for!Heard...a...whippoorwill!!! 3 chirps and he stopped! SCORE! Check.Slept okay but the condensation got my bag wet even under the overhung shelter. Dripped onto my bag overnight from the ceiling. 500+ miles and this is how my sleeping bag gets wet?! Come on. Make it a challenge at least.Would have left early but 6 Course has my Guidebook pages. Can't go anywhere without them! Set my alarm last night but woke up without it at 5:54am. Wanted to update my journal and see if Lish responded about my inquiry on Trail Days scheduling. Breakfast goooood! Thick pancakes! Better than dinner at Jerry's Kitchen. Pancakes were almost better than Lish's. Not quite.Ice, Not Bad, Dutchess, iSlack, and Boss are going on a road trip. They're going to Indiana or someplace to pick up Not Bad's dog. They're coming back for Trail Days though.The waitress gave me a free sausage biscuit because she cleared my plate before I was finished. I jumped at the opportunity to use the computer, but I hadn't finished my pancakes. While I was eating, I'd been complaining about having to walk all the way to town. This older gentleman behind us over heard the conversation. He offered to give me a ride when he finished his breakfast. "Lane" drove away from Jerry's Kitchen in the wrong direction. I freaked out a little. Kept my composure and asked to be taken in the other direction. He misunderstood where the trail head was located. Glad he turned around. I would not be a good kidnapping candidate. Problems, I would cause many problems for the perp.Turtle and All Good were at the trail head already. We discussed my theory on weight loss regiments and analgesics. Anyway.Hiked to Trimpi shelter. Wizard and Doyle were there. Wizard shared one of his Frankenstein Chemically produced emergency ration food supply brownie. It was dense and tasted like a lemon peel. Hopper, Cheese and Ben (dog) showed up before I left. They're south bounding towards Trail Days. Ben (dog) and Doyle (giant dog) aren't getting along. For a wussie...Doyle sure is convincing. Brushy Mtn. (one of many mtn. named that) was covered, drenched in POISON IVY!!! So afraid it's going to get me! Should have gotten prednisone for this trip.Thought about how we're all so close to each other out here already. People are very outgoing and lonely enough to talk to anyone they meet here. Almost no one will pass by without trying to start a conversation. Maybe it's just an excuse not to hike for a while. It's like a missing piece of my life is being filled in here. Like we live in a village and we rely on each other. The drama. The human interaction fills in some kind of void in me. Maybe that's why people watch reality television so much. People are all alone in their homes. Sheltered and protected from human tragedy and exposure. They don't need to talk to strangers so their circle of relationships are small. Here the world feels bigger. The stories are endless. The laughter is plentiful like the sweat that pours from our bodies.Low on water again because the sources are crappy. Counting on the spigot at Partnership. Saw Daytripper and the gang before they saw me. I pulled my bandanna over my face and ran into the campsite like a bandit with my hands drawn like guns. I busted into the shelter and said, "GIVE ME ALL YOUR POPTARTS!!!"Freeze is offering hot dogs, chips, and sodas for Trail Magic! I'm trying not to eat any of it. I've noticed how junk food effects my stamina out here. How it negatively effects my mood and energy levels.Thinking about hitching a ride to Trail Days with Thunders parents. Conan and Backwards are feeling better. Conan took Amoxicillin. Wow, that's pretty strong medicine for a little cold. The cold shower at the shelter felt so great!!! Washed my shirt and shorts in the sink. The water in the basin was muddy brown. I guess it's been awhile. I was a dirty boy!Going through Atkins tomorrow. Loving my Jerry's Kitchen purchased Peanut butter!!!