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Journal
| About Downunda | Trail
Facts | Hiking the Trail |
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6th July 2002 From:
Wildcat Shelter I hit the trail at 6:15 A.M. and after five miles hit West Mombasha Road. The sign there said "Deli - 1/2 mile," so off I went. I bought a chocolate milk, two packets of potato chips, and a salad submarine sandwich. I ate half the sandwich and drank the milk then took the rest and headed back to the trail. As soon as I got on the trail - "trail magic"! An angel had left a number of containers of water there. A few miles later, just before a road, more containers of water. I met two south bounders who said there was some great trail magic at the next road. Well, I turned into a super-hiker and powered over the hills and boulders with the speed of an 18-year old. After scrambling down a steep hill just before Highway NY 17, I saw it - trail magic like you have never seen! The trail angel had left a register with her name in it, it was 'Restless', and what she had left was a cooler full of ice, coke, iced tea, Hershey's chocolate bars, peanut butter cups, mini-donuts, cookies, a large tin of peanuts, tubes of Pringle's chips, and twelve one gallon containers of water - it was UNBELIEVABLE! I ate the rest of my sandwich then had some of everything, then some more. I was a greedy little boy and felt a little ill, but it was wonderful. I took a photo then started to leave just as 'Lambkins' arrived, so I took a photo of her with the cooler and goodies. Thanks, 'Restless'. Downunda's thru-hiker law #3 says: "All trail angels are guaranteed a reserved space in the shelter in hiker's heaven." Off I went again with renewed energy. You wouldn't believe it - 100 yards on is another cooler, full of ice, coke, and bottled water, compliments of the friends and family of 'Blaze', a current AT thru-hiker. Thanks, folks, but I left them for other needy hikers. The hiking today was great; a nice warm day with a cool breeze - a few steep climbs and descents, boulder scrambles, and rock face running. It's 7:00 P.M. and I'm currently down at Lake Tiorati. It's a very large lake with a swimming beach, lots of picnic tables, and lots of people. There's a robotic ice cream vending machine here that I got an ice cream sandwich from (thanks to a tip from 'Charlie Foxtrot's' journal entry). I just spoke to the Ranger here and there are quite a few spots where I can camp here, so that's the plan. I'm off for dinner now, so I'll say goodnight all.
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