Date: 2003-07-20
From: Brigners', Peterstown, WV

To: Campsite North of Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Today is the first day of my new mindset. It¢s almost 5:30pm. I got to the Rice Field Shelter, the first out of Pearisburg, at almost 4:00 pm. I read the register and part of a Far Side Gallery book that had been left there. This is an incredible spot for a view, so instead of rushing to get to the next campsite 1.4 miles away where I plan to stay tonight, I found a rock to sit on and enjoy it. It¢s hazy, but the valley of rolling tree-covered hills and patches of farmlands is pretty anyway. The Trail stretches off to my right, down and back up a slight slope before it returns to the woods.It ended up that I stayed at Barbara¢s last night. She offered to run me to Wal-Mart for anything I needed, and while we were there said why didn¢t I stay with them. I accepted, as much as I enjoyed the view, comfortable mattresses, and cross-breeze blowing through the sleeping quarters upstairs at the Holy Family. I would have been alone there last night. So we returned there and I grabbed my stuff and headed back to her house. Her husband came to Wal-Mart, too; he looks so familiar, I¢m sure I¢ve met him somewhere before, but we couldn¢t place it. He drove me back to the Trail today, and I started out about 12:15 pm.It was a little confusing at first; with all the roads and corners right there it was difficult to see the blazes. For the first half hour or so the Trail runs along the highway and across the bridge; when the Trail finally headed back into the woods I breathed a ¢Thank God!¢ It was still two hours or more before the city noise died away.My leg seems okay. It was still swollen this morning, around my ankle and a little by my knee. I wasn¢t 100 percent sure I should pull out today, but I don¢t think I could have endured another zero day. I just kept an easy pace.So I guess I¢m looking at West Virginia as I lean against this rock up on the ridge, daydreaming, enjoying the breeze, watching a twin-engine fly overhead, and combating the flies that won¢t let me be.Mmm ¢ my first draught of iodine water today. Gotta love that flava! At least I won¢t develop any goiters this summer.Since the sky appears fair, I¢m risking not setting up my rain fly and sleeping out again. This is a decent little campsite with a good water source. Lots of relentless bugs, though. What do they like so much about my ears? Years from now I¢m going to sit up in bed in the middle of the night, a cold perspiration on my brow, safe and secure in a bug-tight house, that high-pitched buzz echoing in my ears¢¦I succeeded in hanging my food; perhaps, oh, a 6.8 on the bear-hanging scale. It should do. I¢ve got my rain fly positioned at my right hand, readily accessible should raindrops begin.For the most part it is so quiet out here. Now and then I still hear the sounds of civilization: a train whistle, the interstate¢s roar ¢ and this 8.2 miles out of town! Wow.It¢s funny because before I came out on the AT I¢m not sure I would have gone camping alone. (My mother breathes a sigh of relief.) Maybe I would have; for a long time I didn¢t have enough gear to be self-sufficient. I would have liked the idea, but not been quite adventurous enough. Well here I am, aren¢t I? All the adventure a girl could want. Plenty of ¢wide open spaces.¢ (I¢m not a country music girl, but I love that song by the Dixie Chicks.)God, You are so good to me. Make me worthy.