Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail! - Trail Journal -
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July 28, Graymoor Spiritual Life Center - mile 1390.3

I've been lazy & hiked only half a day, but Graymoor is such a highly-praised trail tradition, that I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to be here. If I had passed on by, I know I would always have regretted missing this, so instead I'm taking the afternoon off. I've already enjoyed the cold shower down below in the ball field, where the hikers stay & now I'm up in the prayer garden, relaxing & writing while I enjoy all the flowers & the pond here. Later this evening, we'll all be up here officially for supper, well-known by hikers to be excellent & of large portions!

7P.M. It's hard to believe I'm sitting at my campsite eating gorp, having only polished off my Graymoor meal a mere hour ago! It's almost like once the stomach gets started, it can't quit. Our meal was really great - big turkey sandwiches, macaroni salad, pasta with sausage & big slices of watermelon - my favorite! There were twelve of us for dinner, plus five more people back here at camp when we returned. No more chance of being lonely! I can't believe how many people are here tonight.

I have to confess that my neighbor at the table tonight was appalling in his table manners, or lack thereof. He was incapable of asking any one to pass the food, but just flailed his arms all over the table, grabbing what he wanted at that moment. I was really disgusted. Being a hiker is no reason to completely abandon all manners, even if you are really hungry. Later, as the Brother was walking us back out of the building, I asked how we could give a donation, loud enough so that everyone could hear & I hoped, felt obligated to give something. Our guidebook also mentions leaving a donation, but they don't ask for any suggested amount, nor do they have a "donation can" set out anywhere to jog your conscience. I'm sure a lot of people were irritated that I brought it up, hoping they could make pigs of themselves for free. But I think everyone gave at least something before we left, so I was glad about that. We all would gladly spent money on a meal like that in town - there's no reason to expect it for free out here.