July 22, Mashipacong Shelter - mile 1311
Today has been, without question, one of the most amazing days of the trail, not to
mention in my life! I not only enjoyed trail "magic" - I received a trail miracle. I was hiking
along today around noon, just coming over a bad rocky section, when I met two hikers
coming south. As usual, I stopped to say hello & chat for a minute & then I learned it was the
Ridge Runner from New Jersey, with his wife, along just for the week. She immediately
started questioning me about my knee, whether it hurt & had I fallen (yes to both) & on for a
little while. I was getting very curious as to why she was so interested in my knee. I wasn't
wearing the wrap today & no one else notices my knee problems unless I point it out to
them. Finally she says "I'm a chiropractor. Would you like me to take the kink out of that
knee?" I nearly fell over with shock! So I actually got out my z-rest & laid down on the side
of the trail, while she re-aligned both knees, my left ankle, several vertebrae, my pelvis & my
neck. Just like that! A $100 treatment on the side of the A.T. for free & afterwards I feel like
I've just gotten new knees. I was so stunned by the moment, I didn't even get their names.
Life just couldn't get better.
In other highlights for the day, I got a fantastic deli lunch at Worthington Bakery, which is
right on the trail & has been a thru-hikers tradition for close to 50 years. They clearly have
hired non-family staff who aren't as endeared to hikers as the family may be, but even still, I
thoroughly enjoyed my turkey sandwich, apple turnover, ice cream bar & two Gatorades!
Tonight at the shelter, we met our first south bound thru-hiker, who is quick to tell us he
didn't start on Katahdin but rather in the Whites in New Hampshire, But still, it's the first of
many to come & I'm really looking forward to meeting more SOBO's as they're called.
