Date: 2009-05-14
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Marble Creek campsite
Miles today: 17.2

I looked at my companion this morning and was blown away by all the things listed in it for today's hike - I felt completely overwhelmed and intimidated. State of mind is everything out here, and it's so easy to sic yourself out! Just gotta learn to live in the present and take life as it comes. I'm working on it...We hiked up Apple Orchard Mountain and it smelled great! We went past what was listed as "The Guillotine" in my book -- a rock wedged between two other rocks, hanging about 30 feet in the air above the trail. My other ankle started bothering me today, so I finally took out the inserts I had just bought and put my old ones back in. That seemed to do the trick. What to do with my brand new inserts? I stole an idea from Wags that she stole from Young Gun - I stuck them in my crocs. AMAZING! I was also really clumsy today and fell not once, no definitely not just once, but yes, twice. Wind up and Saint were there for the first one, and Saint was there for the second. I laughed so hard I seriously almost peed on myself both times, and I had to be helped up. If I don't break a toe on this expedition I'll be shocked. We set up camp at this great campsight, and met Jeremiah Johnson (yeah, Boss, Adam, and James ya'll read that right...and yes, when he left I told him to watch his top knot). He's from Ohio and seemed to be a pretty cool dude. We had a great time sitting around the campfire until....it started to thunder. I looked at my watch - May 14th - my two month trail anniversary! It figures two months ago I was sitting in my tent on Springer Mountain in a storm, I should be doing the same tonight. It came a helluva storm - lightning and thunder all around, rain pouring down. And I remained pleasantly almost dry all night. I think I needed that experience for some personal growth as a camper but I'm tellin you, I'll pick a shelter in a storm over a tent any day.Yesterday somebody was nice enough to leave a newspaper at a shelter we passed (eh, leave no trace...), and I flipped through it during my second lunch. I read this interesting article about combining science and faith. Of course by now I've forgotten the website, but this guy has created a site regarding this issue and it seemed totally cool. I've never understood why some folks think you can't be a Christian AND believe in evolution. It seems to me that evolution isn't possible without the guideance of a creator. Yesterday I talked about how seeds are dependent on a variety of things in order to germinate. Think about the generic hummingbird/trumpet-type flower metaphor, how frogs/toads go through metamorphesis, the way bird's bills are designed to fit their diet (wading birds - long, pointy bills; seed eaters - thick, durable bills good for cracking), etc. etc. Mother Nature is amazingly intricate (Aldo Leopold talks about cogs and what not...you should definitely read A Sand County Almanac immediately if not sooner), and I'm lucky enough to walk around outside all day soaking it all in. Good grief, I really don't want to get sucked back into a desk job when this awesome adventure is over!