Date: 2003-05-09
From: Campsite on the trail.

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 0.0

start campsitedestination Dennis Cove Gappart 1I woke up early,it was still very dark,except for these crazy lights flashing all around me. I lay there trying to figure out what in the world was going on with all these lights. A few minutes later,I found out,when the thunder started booming.It was more lightning than thunder and thankfully neither of it was close.At least for a few mminutes.That is when the fireworks really began in earnest.I thought to myself,that in my tiredness and haste last night,I had not even thought to check around for dead trees standing around the site.Here I am on stream bank.I would either die by being hit by a falling tree,or drown after being swept away by the stream coming out of it's banks!Realistic thinking is not something I do well at 3:00 in the morning!I quoted Psalms 23:1 and crawled down into my bag as far as I could get,as if the thin fabric of the bag would save me.Thankfully the storm was fierce but moved quickly.I fellback to sleep and when I woke up,again,everything was damp and drippy,including my determination and spirit.Today was the day that the"bear" got me.Not the four legged kind that you find in the woods.But the bear that jumps on your back when you are least expecting him,slowing you down,convincing you that you will never make it to the end.You are washed up,wasted,and discouraged.of course the bear always catches you unawares.He is a lot like ole Satan.He jumps on you when you least expect him too.He gets you discouraged,down trodden, and in a bad way before you even know what is happening.Just like the Bible says ,Satan goes about seeking whom he might devour.If we are on the lookout for him,he usually cannot catch us unawares.But so often,at leastfor myself,he sneaks up behind me and whallops me when I am not looking or expecting him.If he can get us discouraged,then we cannotfocus on the blessings and goodness of the Lord.And we sure can't be a witness of grace and mercy while we are dragging 300 pounds of "stuff" on our bag,weighing us down. So today I had a really bad case of the bear.I am tired.Tired of being wet,being muddy,tired of my feet hurting.Tired of people who lope effortlessly up the inclines and gracefully down the descents.Tired of walking,and tired of eating one pot meals.Tired of having to dig catholes,or trying to find a secluded place to wet a tree.Tired of smelling bad,looking homeless ,being dirty beyond description,and being away from my family.Did I mention that was tired?As the day wore on.it became worse.I feel like quitting.other hikers say I will not make it to Katahdin in time.The fact that they are still here with me,does not register.If I am not going to make it,then what are they doing here with me?I am filled with doom, gloom and despair.The fact that the rain has stopped and the sun is trying to come out is lost on me.All I feel today is discouragement.It does not seem to help to pray,although I know prayers offered to my heavenly father do not go unnoticed.The 6 miles to the shelter takes me 4 hours.I was told that the shelter is halfway to where I get out at.There are someday hikers,mostly in their 60's and 70's.They try to encourage me,I have their admiration.It does little to lift my spirits.The day seems to go on forever,but finally I am at Dennis Cove.This is where I am getting out to go meet Jerry.I am to call for a ride with the Bed and Breakfast owner.I hike down the road to Kincora Hostel to use the phone.Miss Janet is there dropping off some hikers and she offers to drop me off at the place I am staying.We have a nice visit during the drive and only have to turn around one time.I am aprehensive about where I am staying tonight,since I am clueless about what kind of place this is.As we turn up into the driveway and the house comes into view,I gasp!This is a beautiful log home on 140 acres.I do not even want to get out of the van.I smell bad,I look as bad,if not worse than I smell.I am also covered withmud from my knees down.The inn keeper,Vikki Woods is on the porch to greet me.She would not hear of me takng off my boots at the porch .She insists that this place is for outdoors people. She shows me the dumb waiter that will effortlessly take my pack upstairs to my room.I ask her if it will hold me too? She immediatly makes me feel welcome and shows me the choices I have for my room.Both rooms are great beyond description.They both have whirlpool tubs.One has a view of the mountains,the other has a steam shower.Which one do you think I picked?Right on,I have spent 7 weeks up close and personal with these mountains,I have seen all of them I want to see for now.I chose the steam room.Then later as darkness falls,I have the full moon flooding the bedroom with it's eerie glow.Pure magic!See?You can have it all sometimes! The first order of business is to get myself clean.If Jerry was to see me now or smell me,he would turn around run! My clothes,all of them are whisked away to be washed.Even the one set of clean ones I have.After all,they have been in the bag with my other clothes,so they smell.I will go to dinner and spend the rest of the evening wrapped in a thick terry cloth robe.Such luxuries!! This country girl was shown how to use the steam shower,and let me tell you,it was sheer heaven!I sat on the little stool and watched all this black dirt run down my legs and into the drain.I concentrated really hard on letting some of my negativity and dispondentcy flow along with the dirt.I am convinced that somewhere at my house is an area for a steam shower!It will do a trick on sore,tired aching muscles.I then cool off with a shower and wash my hair three times just because I can.Followed by a all over spritzing of body spray,I am truly feeling completely different!What a little soap and water will do for a gal's moral! I was just finishing up when Jerry drives up.He finds me on the bed eating strawberries dipped in chocolate!I had already went through the basket of fresh fruit that was on our dresser!It was really so great to see him.I had to fight back tears.Jerry has remained my best support person through out this whole adventure,in addition to taking over my duties at his office,and trying to keep the house in order in my absence. He also works to help support my hiking habit! Dinner is an unbeleivable affair.A fresh salad starts us off.I do miss fresh vegetables out on the trail.The main course is pork medallions with mandarines,fresh steamed asparagus,and baby carrots.This was followed by a tantelizing fresh strawberry pie.Jerry almost fell out of his chair,as I cut a quarter of the pie and put on my plate!"Well"I said,"Vicki said it was all ours."