Date: 2006-06-08
From: Knot Marl(sp?) Shelter

To: Knot Marl(sp?) Shelter
Miles today: 11.2

Good morning. 46er and Storyteller showed up last night just as it was getting dark. Storyteller's Girl Scout training came in handy starting our little fire. I had strung my bear rop and was waiting to hang their food bag with mine. It's a bitch hanging your rope in the dark. Well, we had all resupplied in town and when we lifted both bath, the tree limb snapped and came down. A big branch! Fortunately, 46er and I weren't hurt. But we did have to string our ropes in the dark, this time two separate lines. It started raining around 2:00am. I moved my pack inside the shelter to keep it dry. I'd planned an early start, looking for another 20 today. It was still cold and raining at 6:00, so I stayed in my bag. Got up around 7:30 to the sun coming out. So I'm leaving camp at almost 9:00, pretty much like always. I've got too many songs in my head, both yesterday and today. I've woken to Delamitri's 'Driving with the Brakes On.' I've woken to tears both days. Damn. One thing's for sure, these Scottish lads know how to write bittersweet love songs. Ok, it's noon and time for another snack. I've got a new ditty running through my head. You probably know this one. Doe a deer, a female deer, ray a drop of golden sun, me a name I call myself, far a long long way to walk. Since I left camp, I've run across three deer and a fawn. First one ran into the woods as I crested a hill. Second one was at the bottom of a switchback. We were face to face, about 15 yards from each other. I said, I won't hurt you, let me just take a picture. She moved off the trail about 20 yards, then face me again for the pic. Third one was about 10 minutes later, 20 yards off the train in a clearing. The fawn was 10 minutes after that. She stared at me for a moment and then bounded away. Wow, they can move gracefully and quickly through the brush. A little while later, I was startled by some black and white fur under a bush. My first thought was that it was a skunk, but it turned out to be three abandones kittens, two black and white, and an all black one. Awww. They eyeballed me and scampered up the hill. It's a shame people throw animals away, I say hang 'em high. I got to the shelter at 2:30. I planned to eat a hot lunch and press on another nine miles today. I dropped my pack on the picnic table and set out for water. There's an 'occasional' spring 300 yards to the right, or a stream 2/10 of a mile north on the AT. I tried the spring, which was a murky puddle. Back up to the shelter and down to the stream. I'd walked at least 2/10 when the sky opened up and it began to pour. Since I hadn't seen, heard, or smelled any water source, I dashed back up to the shelter. When I got back, the rain stopped, but all my stuff and pack were wet. I stored it in the shelter and set out again for water. The stream was almost 4/10 by my count. Filled up and back to the shelter. By now an hour has passed, pretty much what I figured I'd spend here. 46'er and Storyteller showed up. I shared some of my water so they could cook. We ate, by now it was closing in on 4:30. The sky clouded up again, the wind kicked in and I knew that if I headed out, I'd be walking in the dark. I decided to stay put. Rolled out my sleeping gear and guess what? Sun again, oh well. There's a big climb ahead, best to walk it in the morning. Around 5:30 I heard Jackson's collar, Porkchop right behind, and then John Peterson. We're all hanging out, building a fire, and enjoying each other's company. Another great day on the AT. Peace.