Date: 2004-10-24
To: Loneliness sets in...
Miles today: 0.0

We had originally planned to do some of the Trail the day after I visited Farrell. Due to the long days, hard miles, and more than one beer the night before, I decided to take my first zero day. It turned out to be a great choice physically, but a horrible one psychologically. I was able to rest and heal, but Farrell and his roommates were all at work so there was still no one to talk to. I spent most the day wishing Farrell had more food at his place and reading some book that has reviews of every movie ever made. (Even thinking about it is boring now)That night we went to Wal-mart and I bought a pocket radio so I could listen to music during the day. The next morning I was ready to go. John Estes dropped me off around 7:30 or so and I started the three miles to Winding Stair Gap. (US64) As I crest the first few ridges and leave the sounds of traffic behind I start thinking about how dirty bum-like I must look. I had been allowing my hair to grow out, and was constantly wearing a bandana to hold heat in. Right as I am thinking about how I wish I would have bought a comb to brush my hair with, I find one sitting right in the middle of the Trail! This is something hikers like to call Trail Magic. Just when something is needed, fate, ka, or God throws a little goodwill your way. (This happens to me again weeks later when I need a pen and find one minutes later.) We never make a prayer saying "please give me this" but many times a need is seen and cared for. (also prayers that start "please give me this" I find are usually not granted, but are used to help make you tougher in the long run.      It started raining after a few hours so i stopped to put on my gear. Right as I got started up again I hear "HELLO!!" right behind me. I almost jumped out of my pants. Who could it be but Magic! He had taken two days off and snuck up behind me while I was changing. Since he was heading to the next shelter like me, we decided to hike together. Now magic, who hiked last year and is doing the triple crown this year, hiked at a pace I could barely keep up with. All my concentration went towards not falling down. He tried to carry on a conversation and I did my best but I could barely breathe by the time we got to the blue blazed trail to Siler Bald Shelter. We had the shelter all to ourselves that day and night. (We had stopped rather early 3 or 4.) So we set out tents up inside the shelter to fight against the cold. The view that night down the mountain into Franklin was awe inspiring. The street lights were set on the ground in a blueish color that could be mistaken for a view of the sky were one not paying attention.    That morning Magic was up and out before I had even started breakest. He said he would wait for me but I didn't want to slow him down. The first half of the day everything was completly soaked in fog. Most views were gone but the woods were plenty beautiful enough to keep me busy. Was one step behind Magic most the day and was hoping to meet him down at the sheletr that night, but he had decided to move on (BEAST!!) It was dishearting that i was alone again in the shelter, but I love the trail and was still having fun. After eating I crawled in my bag and was listening to NPR when I heard something else, more hikers!! Dusty and Lefty came hiking down well after dark. (Dand L are the older couple I met in Wood's Hole my second night) They had hiked most the day to get here and had way to much food, so they fed me and we talked for awhile. Most of the talk revolved around their son, his graduation and marriage coming up. This made me feel even more lonly and homesick for my girlfriend Kristin. I couldn't sleep most the night, thinking about Kristin some but mostly about how I probably wouldn't see anyone for days again. Since Magic was ahead and I'm faster than D and L. The next morning I hiked down to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, thinking about this decision. Finally I make it, it's hard, but I can't take it back. I call Kristin. Micah feeds me the best burgers at WCU while I wait, and when she gets me I end up taking untill the 14th of March off. A long time, but in my next journal you will see that it was worth it (and wasn't worth it.) Stayed Tuned!!