Date: 2004-04-11
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 10.4

Day 294.11.045pmStill a migraine. Not as bad as yesterday, though. Made it to Standing Bear Hostel. Tried to find a way to a motel, but no luck. Hopefully tomorrow. Raining pretty hard right now, supposed to continue into tomorrow. Plus, Andy, Dennis, and Peter taking the day off too. Pretty crowded here -- Big John & Bo, Radar, Pete, Mockingbird, Caroline & Anna & Adam, Slow Walker, Mississippi Mule, Eric & Jessica, at least 7 others. Hope I feel better soon. Being sick sucks. Being sick in the wilderness sucks even more. Called home. Probably shouldn¢t have. Just got Mom all worked up. Nothing she can do about it. But, if I can get into Hot Springs tomorrow, hole up for a day, maybe meet up w/ some hikers who are a few days ahead, that¢d be nice. Great hike down to Davenport Gap. Would¢ve been perfect if I¢d felt up to par. Slow, gradual descent. Overcast, though, which detracted from the views. Didn¢t climb Mt. Cammerer. Nothing to see, only clouds. Another 2 12 days to Hot Springs, hike-wise. G & G are planning on coming up to see me, take me out for a meal. Apparently, Gma has been checking out trailjournals, found mention of me on Cuppa Joe¢s page. Hope he¢s recovered from his Achilles injury. Sucks when your body won¢t keep up w/ you. But, you have to listen to it or you end up in even deeper water.8pmDinner seems to be staying down, which is a good thing. Not sure whether I¢ll sit tomorrow out or not. Guess I¢ll see in the morning. Just feel as if I¢m spending too many zero days too early into my hike. Guilty or something. Plus, I¢m spending too many dollars. If it was just my money, wouldn¢t feel quite so bad, but w/ mom and dad footing my credit card bill, it doesn¢t seem fair. Just take it one day at a time. See how I sleep tonight. Haven¢t slept well since Grandma¢s, except for one night in Gatlinburg. It¢s super toasty and cozy in the bunkhouse right now. The wood-burning stove is fired up. ¢Course, someone is already snoring. Eventually exhaustion has to win out over being a light sleeper, right? Another factor tomorrow is the weather. 90% chance of thunderstorms. Not very good outlook. But, they¢ve been wrong before, and they¢ll be wrong again. Hiked this morning w/ Andy, Dennis, and Peter up to Davenport Gap, where they split for Mountain Momma¢s, to meet up w/ Nora (Dennis¢ S.O.). Bear Behind, complete w/ stuffed animal trio, accompanied them, getting a lift from Barbara¢s brother (hiking from Davenport to Maine). I hooked up w/ Radar there, into Standing Bear. He thru-hiked in ¢02, sectioned last year, and did 250 ¢conditioning¢ miles on the AT this year, gearing up for his PCT hike next week. Lots of helpful hints and info. It all comes from experience. Maybe one day even I will be doling out such insightful advice and wisdom to wearied and worried beginners. Everyone has to start from somewhere. Some Easter trail magic tonight. Family drove 2 hrs, from past Asheville, delivering Easter baskets of candy and chocolate. Wonderful surprises. Up on Charlie¢s Bunion, Dennis and Peter got ham and cheese sandwiches from a day hiker. (No vegetarian option on the menu¢¦) Think my appetite is perking up. At least it was before those 2 rough days on my tummy. Haven¢t really noticed any significant weight loss, but I definitely have more muscles, especially in the legs, and more energy. Starting to get dark out, and the head¢s firing up again. Let¢s hope it¢s not another long night¢¦