Date: 2018-10-03
From: Route 60 Buena Vista/Lexington

To: Punchbowl overlook
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: clear sky

I was in and out of sleep all night, tossing off the covers and reaching to pull them back over me again and again. I got up 3 times for the bathroom and again was plaqued by number 2 issues reapeatedley. I moseyd out to the lobby after 7 and as I suspected there was yogurt for me. Period. I watched Eddyman eat 2 raisin bagels and it was all I could do not to assault him and devour them myself. I wanted a bagel with the primal gutural instinct of a lion wanting red meat. In the 2 years I've been GF this has not happened. It hasn't bothered me but become quite normal not to have bread. But this morning I entered a new world. With just my yogurt fueling me we loaded our packs into the trailblazer when Frog arrived and were shuttled to the trailhead at Route 60. I couldn't believe we could descend more after yesterday but we did. All the way to Brown Creek. Today was one of my favorite hikes. Not because we had amazing views or summited high peaks, it was contrary to that. It was for the first half of the hike along the Brown Creek and a stroll through history. This area was home to a crop sharing community in the early 1900's. A community of freed slaves who worked together to form this community growing corn, tobacco and other goods. They lived in simple homes and built a successful community before the land was sold to the Forest service in 1920. It was exciting to think about where things might have been, spying an old stone foundation and imagining where the grist mill was. I thought for hours about what life might have been like in this community. I love history. Toward the later part of the day we had a steady and gradual ascent. Finally we ended at the Punchbowl overlook. We were an hour early for our shuttle. We sat in the sun despite the heat and humidity because the mosquitos seemed less viscous there. I ate the apple I'd smuggled out at breakfast now that I could dispose of the core in a trash can and sat on the curb. Then I called the clinical nutritionist and herbalist who's been treating me since late 2016 and asked about help for my current symptoms and begged for a bagel. After some discussion about my blood test results for food sensitivity and my current status he suggested I not stray from the GF diet as my other symptoms could worsen, such as the pain and inflammation. But I'd decided I was going to give it a try. Frog arrived and before he brought us back to Stanimals hostel in Glasgow we stopped in Buena Vista for gas. Burger King was a half mile away. I put on my best pout and he agreed to stop. I ordered a Whopper with cheese meal and boy that burger was good! I've been accused by others in the vehicle of forgetting to breathe while I ate it. I wasn't impressed with the fries and I understand now what Brian means when he says McDonald's fries are better. At the We picked a 4 bunk room and I settled in on a top bunk to rest a bit and listen to the fireworks in my belly. The mattress not being the most comfortable seemed thin and when I layed on my side it was hard on my hip. I rested and relaxed until Eddyman and WE were showered and then took my turn. I later walked down to Scottos pizza place where I ordered 2 subs to go, then over to the"grocery store" which sells more plumbing supplies and housewares than food looking for eggs and bagels. I struck out on both and ended up at Dollar General landing a dozen eggs, box of Cheerios and milk. Then I walked back to the hostel in the dark with no sidewalk. Sketchy. I was exhausted so I turned in for the night. I hope I don't fall off this bunk or have issues getting down for the bathroom later.