Date: 2003-07-10
From: Hog Camp Gap

To: Seely-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: broken clouds

start Hog Camp Gapdestination Seely-Woodworth ShelterI woke up, well rested and listening for the sounds of the church group stirring around. They were supposed to get up early this morning. I didn't hear any noise at all, so I laid there and contemplated getting up, even though the sun was not up yet. I looked at the watch hung on my pack. It was 2:15 am. I hate it when that happens. I think that I have slept all night long only to find it has been hours. The wind had died down during the night, but there was still this mist hanging low over the campsite. I rolled over and tried to ignore the call from my bladder. I finally gave in and went outside. I could just barely see two feet in front of me. I scrambled back into my sleeping bag and talked myself back to sleep. I woke up early again to the sounds of the church group packing up getting ready to leave. It was 5:45am. They tried to be as quiet as possible, but we both woke up. I listened to them as they ate, then packed up, dividing the food between them, and setting their goals for the day. I called good bye to them as they left. I asked Mudbut if she had any objection to laying here another hour. Of course she had none, and within minutes the sound of her snoring blended in with the birds as they woke up. I read a little of my book, then finally got my rain gear on and got out to make my morning tea. I put my rain gear on as a deterrant against the bugs. After a while I woke Mudbut up with a cup of hot tea under her nose. We packed up slowly, fighting the bugs as we went. We are both sore and dragging from the climbs yesterday. It seems as if we are moving in slow motion. I wonder if this feeling is due to not drinking enough water yesterday. Our water sources were few and far between and I did not want to carry the extra weight of water up those mountains. I vow to do better today with the rehydration. We hike together for most of the morning, talking about a dozen different things. We stop for lunch on the side of the trail. We were hoping to take advantage of the free lunch served by the DutchHaus Bed and Breakfast. They even provide a ride from the trail to their Bed and Breakfast and back. Alas we miss the deadline by a few days. Since we both have mail drops in Waynesboro, we stop early today. It won't accomplish a thing to get into town on a Saturday afternoon or on a Sunday. The water source here at the shelter is one of the best on the trail. I do not even bother to filter my water, but just drink it straight from the source. There is enough land above the source to purify the water as the rain seeps down the mountain. We fix supper together, macaroni and cheese! Again!! I know my food bag is lighter, I can close it now. It just doesn't seem to weigh any less. The bugs are more vicious than ever and we are driven into our tents for refuge. My hiking clothes are hung outside on my tent line. They look like they have millions of tiny little black dots on them. I spend a few minutes killing the bugs that have snuck inside. Their bite does not nessesarily itch, but it leaves a giant whelp. I have unknowingly brought plenty inside the tent when I brought my pack in. It is several minutes before they are all dead. Then I get my dirty sock and scoop them all up and quickly throw them outside. This morning when I got up, my face was all swollen on one side from the bites I got at supper. I could see my cheek puffed out underneath my eye. There is thunder off in the distance. I don't know if we will get a shower or not tonight. But it does not matter. I am snug in my tent, listening to the wind blow. There is no one else at the shelter with us tonight. We must be the last of the thru hikers for this year. I think I may have figured out something today. This hike for me is not about doing the miles. It is not about walking to Maine. Although I will do both of those things. For me, it is about holding close, and letting go. It is about meeting new friends and watching them walk away. It is about knowing that what time you spent with them however short is was, it was the way it was meant to be. It is about change and remaining the same. It is about leave no trace, yet leave a trace for others to follow. It is about sharing, and caring. It is about giving and receiving. It is about loving and being loved, not only on the surface, but deep down in your soul. It is about looking past what you think you see to what is really there. It is about testing one's limits and the pleasure you get from exceeding what you thought you could do. It is not merely a walk in the woods, or a walk of endurance. It is a walk to build strenth and character. To give, to take, to hold fast, to let go, to see, to be seen, to learn, to teach, to grow, to become different, yet remain the same. It is about making a difference, not only in our own life, but in those lives we come in contact with everyday as we travel from Ga.to Ma. total miles 7.7