April 24, 1997 (Day 36 – milepoint 361.5 – Clyde Smith Shelter)

Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream for breakfast and caught a ride into town to do laundry, grocery store, and post office.

I sent home my water purifier. Going to give bleach a try. 1-2 drops per quart and much lighter to carry. Only time will tell if that was a good decision or not.

My trekking poles are falling apart so I called Leki for repair advice and they’re sending me a brand new pair in Damascus, VA. Didn’t expect that.

I decided to try to hitch a ride up to Iron Mountain Gap today instead of waiting for Kampfire to take me tomorrow. I didn’t want to spend any more money at the campground and I was very much ready to get moving again. Kampfire predicted that I wouldn’t get a ride and that I’d end up camping on the side of the road, but he wished me luck anyway. Boy was he wrong. I was at Iron Mountain Gap within an hour, getting rides from four different people. Two others, going in the other direction, stopped just to say hello. Hitchhiking today was fun, and I feel heightened by the kindness of strangers. Tenting behind the shelter. A lone wolf howls in the distance.

Aquaholic

April 24, 2009

Hey Aquaholic,

Patience is everything. Not much else to say today.

O’