Date: 2007-11-28
From: Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel

To: Uncle Johnny's Hostel, Erwin, TN
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: clear sky

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH! Dogs don't belong on the trail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!As you probably guessed by now, I had another bad dog experience today (second day in a row). Last night was very nice with Connie at the Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel, but I didn't leave quite as early as I had planned. I was on the trail walking at 8, which isn't too terribly bad.A few days ago I learned that my "competition" team when I went to Virginia Beach for the Virginia Volunteer Rescue Squad Convention placed 26 of 30! Woohoo! We were probably the only ones competing with three people instead of four (they wouldn't let one of our team members compete because they didn't have the correct paperwork). And, since the guy judging was kind of an ass, I probably didn't score too many bonus points by cracking jokes about him that made everyone else laugh and lose track of what they were doing Don't worry, you shouldn't fear for your safety if you get hurt travelling through Fredericksburg, VA; we do a great job when we aren't too hungover and excited to be at the beach to take care of patients! Also, you're never really more than 15 minutes away from the hospital, so we don't have too much time to do damage! So, anyways, I spent most of the time walking today going through scenarios in my head, going over drug doses and the like, in an attempt to keep my mind sharp for when I finish the trail and can get back to tearing around town in an ambulance or response truck (I am super duper ultra mega excited about this). I have fears about my IV skills, though...watch out, citizens! When I was in Australia, even though I worked for an ambulance service there, I didn't have too many opportunities to start IVs, and when I got back to the States, I butchered a few people's arms.Anyways, enough of instilling fear in the minds of the general public. Quick dog story:Connie told me last night that when she was in town, she had come across three homeless/"Rainbow" guys that had three dogs and eight puppies with them. She said that she regretted telling them where she lived, but told me to expect to see them on the trail. As I was walking up to Cherry Gap Shelter, I smelled smoke, so I figured that there were people there. As I came around a big oak tree, three dogs went wild and came tearing out of the shelter towards me. They were able to call off two of them, but the third kept coming. It was a Jack Russell, which though small and kickable, can pack quite the bite if it wanted. They ended up finally getting their hands on that dog, and I cautiously approached the shelter to just check out the register and split. The one guy wanted to know why I asked for him to leash the dogs, and I told him that I'd been bitten before (while trying to sell fruit for band in high school), and that I didn't want to jeopardize finishing the trail by being bitten by a dog. As I was reading the register, he slowly gave his dog more and more leash until it was standing next to me growling, so that's when I left. I had looked forward to being able to sit down and eat lunch, but I ended up walking another 2 miles to the next gap, where I sat on a log and just watched the trees blow in the wind.I'm not sure why people bring dogs on the trail, so if you're considering it, please read the following reasons why dog's DON'T belong on the Appalachian Trail.1) Dogs poop. On the trail. If you're like most people, you won't pick it up. No one wants to step in your dog's shit.2) Dogs contaminate water sources. Try as hard as you might, it's pretty much impossible to keep your dog away from every spring and creek that a hiker might drink out of. Who wants to drink water that got licked by a tongue that just licked an un-wiped ass crack or genitalia? The medical term for the way Giardia is transmitted is "fecal oral." Who wants people to know that they got a "fecal oral" disease?3) Dogs have it in their genes to protect their master's space. Your house is your personal space, so it's OK to have a dog at your house to protect it. A shelter or section of the trail is not your personal space. No matter where you are, your dog is going to guard the area around you as though it's yours, even when it's not. Your dog is too stupid to know when the area around you is your domain or public domain.4) Most people on the trail go there to escape from civilization, or to find peace and quiet. If they wanted to be around pets, they would have volunteered their time at the SPCA or animal shelter instead of spending thousands of dollars on gear and other expenses to get out into the wilderness for an extended period of time.5) Dogs smell. Worse than hikers. It's not pleasant to share a shelter with a dog that smells like it hasn't licked itself enough to keep clean (this only exacerabates reason number 2, however).Those are my thoughts for the day. I like dogs, just not on the trail, and don't see myself hiking another trail where stupid/irresponsible/ignorant people can have whatever dog they want and I can't have a gun.Just realized that I've got fewer than 200 miles until I have hiked 2,000 miles!!!! Also, Connie, who is apparently Jewish, told me that I looked like I was a member of the "chosen race" this morning. I laughed, and told her that most people tell me I look like a Mexican.338.7 miles until daily showers!