Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail! - Trail Journal -
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May 6, Low Gap - mile 354.1

I think I am certifiably crazy. I actually hiked 15.4 miles today on two sore knees, a strained calf muscle and a lumpy ankle. Am I out of my mind?! Actually, I feel better than I have in days (if I hadn't, I would have camped a few miles back). I don't know if it's the antibiotics working on the ankle, or the arnica herbal cream that I just learned about yesterday as an alternative anti-inflammatory remedy, or a combination of the two, but whatever it is, it's working. The swelling is down by at least 60% and the pain is minimal. The key now is not to over-do it, so I'm going to keep listening carefully to all my parts and hike as far as they tell me to in a day.

Before I forget, I must give a huge thank you to everyone who has been sending letters and care packages. Thanks to my mom, Tony's mom, the Steen's and all my aunts for sending news and cards and goodies! Tonight I was particularly enjoying a chocolate biscotti that I just got in a package from the Steen's. I highly recommend them dipped into Lipton noodle soup -- the flavors together are quite extraordinary. I can't wait to have the second one tomorrow night with angel hair pasta.

I've also been reading "Creation Care," a Christian environmental magazine that came in the package. Although it got soaked today when my filter leaked on it, I'm drying the pages and learning much about sustainable agriculture and environmental attitudes. I particularly like this article that says, "There is nothing like time spent in true wilderness to renew one's perspective as to how awesome God is." That's how I feel every day, even though some would argue that the AT is not quite "true wilderness."

Today being Sunday, I'm especially glad to be in the wilderness. I think about my church a lot on Sundays and imagine what part of the service they're in as I sweat my way up a hill and I really miss not being there. But if I can't be in church, I think I've got the next best place to be.