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| May 17th I Am the Walrus After missing two phone calls, it had been 16 days since I spoke with Paul, but was worth the wait as I got to hang out with him last night. He is home to see his friend Shoe's wedding. I think I can get a clearer perspective of the true grandness of Paul's adventure, five months is a lot of time, and the world keeps turning. Paul will return to the AT where he left off in Waynesboro, Virginia Sunday night. It was great to see Paul and his peaceful disposition. It is clear that Paul intends to reach Katahdin, and is anxious to get back to nature. Many nights have passed on the trail since Pearisburg, of couple of which Paul slept in motel rooms. It has been a good couple of weeks for Paul. The weather has been great with little rain and comfortable temperatures. Paul's most recent AT companions have been Dundee, Beaker, and Windex. Dundee is a student at Clemson from South Carolina. Beaker's name was derived from his pink hat that makes him look like Beaker from the Muppets. Windex is hiking the trail in honor of raising awareness of the American Autoimmune and Realated Disease Association (AARDA), which you can read more about by going to her trail journal website that has been added as a link on this site. River and Dahlila are a couple who worked at the Nantahala Outdoor Center last summer and have a dog, whose name is Tyler, but is being called Skunk Dog after he chased and caught a skunk. Paul hopes to catch back up with this group of hikers when he returns. When Paul made his way to Troutsville, he went by McAfee Knob, a cliff overhang that Paul has a picture of hanging on his bedroom wall. He also climbed over Dragons Tooth, without his pack. Paul's second day of slackpacking was an oppourtunity he could not resist. Windex was meeting her parents in this area, and Paul happened to be there when they invited him along with Beaker and Dundee to a buffet and treated them all to rooms at the Best Western. Windex's parents also shuttled the packs by car 13 miles ahead north on the AT, after which Paul hiked another 4 miles alone to Campbell Shelter. I don't know if it is some kind of southern hospitality, or trail conduct, but it seems contagious. A friend of Dundee had also treated the four of them to rooms and dinner when she met up with them in Raphine, VA. There are people along the AT that donate time and food to thru-hikers. Paul referred to a guy named Renegade as a Trail Angel. He set up camp and was spending a couple of weeks feeding thru-hikers at Little Irish Creek. Paul spoke of feasting on a huge breakfast after rising from a night of digesting a sausage and bean dinner, all prepared by Renegade. Paul has become an eating machine, and is using every ounce of energy that he consumes. One misty evening when Paul was alone in a shelter cooking on his stove, he saw a dark shadow that resembled a bear approaching toward him, and Paul was scared. It ended up being a hiker in rain gear on his first day out. He went straight to sleep. The next portion of the AT for Paul will be the Shenandoah National Park, which Paul speculates will be easy and fast. The trail has become rather gradual in elevation changes, and Paul plans to cruise to Harpers Ferry, WV, a psychological half way point on the AT. I hope he enjoys his break from trail life. Paul is indeed an AT thru-hiker, and seems a bit like a fish out of water, and the water looks refreshing. Todd "...man you been a naughty boy you let your face grow long" Beatles |
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