Harper's Ferry (Part 2)

Captains Log |star-date 874291|:

Hi-ya from Earth. We have encountered a simple life here in the mountains. The work is hard and rewarding. The people are crazy, and you'd have to be to walk for 8 hours a day just to eat crunchy rice and sleep between two smelly old men who snore loud enough to shake the floorboards. Our ship has landed at several docking stations where other earthlings welcome hikers to their sleeping quarters and roofs. These people are some of the nicest people we have met. They give to others in hopes that the good they do will transfer to each person they touch and the "good vibe" (as they call it in the Hippie subculture) will continue spreading and reach far beyound their doorstep. Our energy is difficult to regulate due to the weight we must carry on our backs. Therefore our bodies must pull from fat stores when the fuel tank is empty... sometimes leading to THC highs randomly at odd times of the day.

Our progress is slower than expected at the start, probably because we've been having a blast and enjoying the morning at camp and walking late into the night. So when are we going to finish this mission? At this time our arrival at Baxter State Park is set for September 1 and summitting Katahdin Sept 4th at the mark of our Seventh moon cycle and the full illumination of the moon in the night sky. What happens from now until then is not yet decided. That is the beauty of choose your own adventure hiking... one decision at a time... simple.

Reflection. Amidst an adventure chock full of surprises, challenges, joys, and desire... is it time to consider what the truck has been going on... really going on??

Beyond the play by play a beard has grown rampant, a dog has grown tired of walking, an East Coast Spring has bloomed with exuberance bringing rain, fog, and snow to the higher elevations of the Southern Appalachian Mnts swelling rivers like hassle free moonshine. The trail has ascended the highest peak East of the Mississippi, Clingman's Dome (6643ft), and landed us at the intersection of the Shenandoah River and the Potomac River. Where there was a mountain; we climbed to the top of it... sometimes for an incredible view with hills rolling for as far as the eye could see in every direction glistening in the afternoon sunshine...sometimes lost in a cloud of fog making the brim of your hat hard to see... and sometimes to crest over the rounded and rocky knol just to go right back down. It has been amazing.

So much to learn in this life, we have only scratched the surface. I say "we" because I truely believe each and every one of us is on this spaceship earth and we are all essentially the same energy ... underwater bumble bee farms ... mash potatoes and cheese ... it is all the same in the ends... sorry Jesus we can only be friends, I don't need you to save me, I will take my chances on this journey till the end... but I really like what you said about loving your neighbor... funny how we hear only what we want to hear and we disregard the rest (Paul Simon)

Safety Patrol is taking a siesta at Casa de Kababik for the next 300 miles. She has been a great companion and friend and walked the last 1000 miles with grace. She has made many friends and we will all await her return. I wrote this poem when she was on vaca with Hawk...

Amidst the fog
no birthday song
Came to the creek
and stopped to eat
First day without a dog

800 miles of goofy smiles
in cold and warm and HOT
with head held high you did not cry
when difficult to trot

You kept a guard
at camp each night
birds to ascending flight
And bumble bees had met their match
when challenged to a fight

So rest your paws
a better cause
will sleeping be to you
My trusted friend
we'll meet again
and a walkin' we will do



SS