Date: 2007-06-13
From: Bearfence Mountain, VA

To: Skyland Road, VA
Miles today: 16.1

Another easy day at elevation 3300 feet. We do make one 500 foot climb to the summit of Hazeltop, but that¢s about it for outlay of effort.The day ends near the Skyland Lodge. This is an old nineteenth century summer resort that has been brought up to modern standards. Hikers find the dining room convenient for getting a meal right on the trail. Hikers can also stay here if they¢re anxious to part with a hundred dollar bill. We don¢t give it much thought, instead preferring to return to the trail as dusk approaches.TRAINMAN'S SIDEBAR COMMENT: Widower to the WoodsAs I write this (July 11) it¢s been 14 weeks since I¢ve seen April.It is getting to be a little lonely around here.On her last trip in 2004 April asked me to visit her often on the trail, especially when she came within reasonable driving distance from Connecticut. In 2004 she hiked a lot by herself and it was necessary for me to visit her and provide logistical support. This time, however, she is with other hikers (from 1 to 4 of them) all the time. Collectively the group is surviving without my assistance. So I guess my presence is not necessary. Besides, if April was to invite me to the trailhead, might I be perceived as being a party crasher?At home I have plenty of projects to keep me busy with the number one project being Trail Journal Administrator. This activity will absolutely consume 90% of my free time from April to September of this year. I posted details about what is involved in being a TJ Administrator in a previous SIDEBAR.There¢s always plenty to do around the house with my other 10% of free time. The house does not maintain itself, nor does the grass cut itself. The garden (not planted this year) is a disaster with weeds 3 feet tall, but that¢s April¢s problem when she gets home. If by some miracle I can find some spare time between my writing and the house and yard chores, I might find a few seconds to work on my model trains, but I doubt it.Not being a cook by any definition of the word, I don¢t eat very well when I prepare my own food. But I am not starving. I¢ve always got something frozen or canned ready to go. Over the years I have found that a high fiber diet works best for me. I tend to eat a lot of beans and rice, rice and beans, couscous (all 28 varieties), lentils, garbanzos, grits, and mucho bran cereal.Knowing that when April left I was going to be alone in the kitchen son Patrick decided to load me up with my favorite Zatarain¢s brand of beans and rice. Being internet savvy, Patrick found me 3 cases of the stuff for half price. I was concerned that it would arrive as outdated goods or that maybe it would be marked as ¢surplus¢ from a New Orleans distributor. But neither of those happened and I¢ve been steadily working my way through the stockpile.Considering how much hummus I eat, I should find a recipe for making my own. April did just that last year, and the results were good but not quite the same caliber as store bought. I should give it a try myself. I could easily save $5 a week and I would never run out.Venturing beyond the opening of cans, I have successfully cooked an all-in-the-box pasta salad (first box was a little off the mark, but the second box was right on). I also wisely consulted our 44-year old McCalls/Random House cookbook for scrambled egg tips, keenly observing that low heat and constant attention are required (I might have missed those points if I had tried to wing it).The fiber diet has allowed me to lose a few pounds. While hiking with April in March I shed a pound a day for 10 days. Since being home another couple pounds have fallen off. But how will I keep them off when April returns? All she wants to eat is meat and potatoes, and she¢s not nearly as fond of beans as I am.Son Christopher, although having moved out of this house a year ago, still visits every Tuesday night. He and his buddies get together for an evening of video game playing and BS-ing. Actually more BS-ing than game playing. This tradition started over 3 years ago and shows no signs of stopping. This gives me a weekly opportunity to see Chris in person and ask if there¢s any more of my old junk he wants to cart off to his new house.Son Patrick has a summer job in Albany which is only 80 minutes away. I see him occasionally, but mostly he drives through of his way to his brother¢s house, 30 miles further south. We mainly communicate by e-mail. Believe it or not, he no longer asks for money. Now he asks for advice. Have the tables turned!I now play the music I like at any hour of the day or night. Up until 15 years ago I enjoyed rock music from the seventies. Now I¢ve grown tied of the genre, and with only a few exceptions, I NEVER WANT TO HEAR ANY SEVENTIES ROCK FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!Problem is that April¢s tastes are firmly planted in the seventies. She is really enamored by Pink Floyd. I swear if they had a radio station that used the slogan ¢All Floyd All The Time,¢ she would be permanently tuned to it.Conversely, my tastes now run toward New Age and Ambient music, and especially internet radio sites such as SOMA. April really hates this stuff, actually telling me that when she hears that music she wants to throw up.Maybe she will when she comes back, but for right now I can play SOMA any time I want, as loud as I want. The floors are clean.I guess there is at least one good thing to say about being a widower to the woods.