Date: 2006-06-13
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Blackburn AT Center
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, Bama got her butt kicked today - but she didn't give up!! The roller coaster was everything she had heard, plus a lot more. She, Little Wing and Just Judy left the Rod Hollow Shelter at 6:15 am this morning and hit the trail. Not only was the trail a literal roller coaster of elevation gains and losses, much of the "trail" was covered with bolders and rocks that had to be climbed over and/or walked around. This was no woodsy path or "walk in the woods." Bama said she couldn't recommend anyone to voluntarily do this section of the trail, but it's all part of the AT experience.Comment: The geniuses (sadists?) who originally laid out the AT (and those who have since modified it) did not intend for it to be a stroll in the park. It was designed to test ones physical, mental and emotional limits. Well, they succeeded!Toward the 2/3 point on the way to the Blackburn AT Center, Bama decided that before she collapsed, she would stop at the Bear's Den Hostel for a rest, a Coke and her trail lunch (peanut butter and whole wheat tortillas are very popular) - mainly because Melody and Patty had spoken so highly of it and its manager, David. Unbeknownst to her, the Bear's Den also has a conference center. When she got there, David's rules for thru-hikers are that they use the back door to get drinks and stuff (who wants to smell stinky thru-hikers?). But Bama, Little Wing and Just Judy not knowing about the conference center, entered the front door and ran full bore into a lunch break of mental health professionals who had come there for a conference.After the roller coaster, they probably looked like illegal aliens who just crossed the Texas border thru the desert and they immediately caught the attention of everyone. Some of the attendees wanted to know about the AT and the hikers became the center of conversation and were offered lunch! Stacy with the conference absolutely INSISTED. Bama feasted on plates of salad, meats, pasta salad, chicken salad, pizza, brie, cheese cake, teramisou, soft drinks and God knows what else (she was too tired to remember what all was offered). Food was almost being forced on them! It was a hiker food orgy! Talk about Trail Magic! Bama spoke to David outside and mentioned Melody and Patti who had earlier worked at Bear's Den Hostel for three years. David told them the history of the hostel and it was very interesting .Bama got back on what was left of the end of the roller coaster and dragged herself into the Blackburn AT Center at about 6:30 pm. Even though she arrived 30 minutes after the traditional free dinner and sodas, the staff magically produced more spaghetti, salad and brownies and were very nice (thanks, guys!). There's a hiker's barn where most folks sleep, but Bama, Little Wing and Just Judy were offered the screened porch to sleep which was just perfect.Tomorrow, on to Harper's Ferry, site of John Brown's Raid just prior to the War Between the States (Civil War, to you Yankees) and as they use to say in parts of the old gentile South, "the recent unpleasantness." Great news! Bama's daughter, Robin, and her two grandchildren, Allison and Kristen are driving to Harper's Ferry to see her (Robin's husband, Todd, is a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force and is in Washington on business from Omaha, NE). Everyone is excited.Bill