Project Eveningland

2/28/2023 Tuesday

The guy at the BnB made Will and me a lovely breakfast with fresh fruit and fresh biscuits. Portions could have been a little larger but they’re not used to hikers. I took him up on his offer of a fresh cherry tart.

Bobby the Greek was right on time, and with a super nice truck, the kind I’m grateful to ride in, but wary of as a pedestrian. I think it was a 2022 Ford Earth Destroyer. Bobby did social work and recently made some big changes in his life. Very likable guy. We picked up Elena at the Microtel Suites (why does that hotel name make me shiver?) and headed back to Rock Gap. Saw Mac there and he already looks slimmer. I hope he is having fun.

Bill, Will and Elena have all commented that they hesitate to take a zero because they feel more tired after. They keep talking about getting back into a hiking rhythm. I don’t know what that means but one should probably feel better after a zero.

I drank half a Dr. Pepper today! I packed it out wrapped in my puffy jacket to keep it cold (cool really) and drank it early in the day to give the caffeine time to get out of my system. I don’t tolerate caffeine well, and avoid it, but I really miss Dr. Pepper. I figured now was my chance with a whole 15 mile day to burn it off. When the taste hit my tongue, I felt I was on a bike pedaling through our old neighborhood, on my way to a run-down car wash that had a soda machine where I could buy that sweet, sweet nectar for 50 cents. But the effects of the caffeine were enough that I can wait until I’m ten years older to try again. I felt unsettled for much of the morning. A light existential dread. It faded by the afternoon and then returned. And that might not even have been a whole half a can!

Will, Elena and I met up five miles out from the shelter next to a gorgeous little cascade. It’s a classic question: do we want to go all the way to the Wayah Shelter or stop short? They wanted to go all the way to the shelter.

We got underway at 3:15 and quickly separated due to different hiking speeds (I was alone for most of the day). It was a long climb. Took me until just before six to get to the shelter area. Will and Elena filed in a while after. I did my camp chores as the sun set behind a mountain and brilliant stars came out. We could see Jupiter bright in the night sky.

Tomorrow I’m going to take some time to recalibrate my strategy and approach. Are my choices creating the kind of conditions I want to hike under?