[at-l] Tangled up in Yellow

[ATnavi@aol.com]

As in yellow blazing, or "How I Spent the Past Few Weeks" en route to and 
from The Gathering. Working my way up and down the coast, enjoying fellowship 
with lotsa folks. You know who you are. Thanks a million. 

I think I crossed the AT over a dozen times, sometimes on purpose, sometimes 
by chance of the roadway. Springer-- so awesome, so wish I had more time to 
spend on the trail this trip. Roan Mtn-- I had to stop short coming over the 
crest, as below the suffocating dark clouds the panorama opened up of 
Tennessee, and the sun peeped out at just the perfect moment, an awesome 
sight. 

Sat in the misty rain in Crampton Gap, waiting for the light to be "just so" 
to get a spooky photo of the War Correspondent's Memorial-- and of the stone 
arch behind Gath's empty tomb. Endured a bone-rattling thunderstorm at Pine 
Grove Furnace that closed down the battlefield at Gettysburg the next morn-- 
too many fallen limbs. (I found a gentle irony in it, and it changed my story 
plans).

Drove to Maine, trying to get to the trail above Bethel and failing when my 
car decided to have problems. Discovered a trail angel of a different kind--a 
mineral collecting master mechanic. Settled for crossing the trail at Gorham, 
NH and onward driving through the Whites. My first time to see these 
mountains. I swear I stopped every mile and just stared. Awesome. 

Thence Hanover. After pushing through a mixup of "where the hell are people 
tenting anyway?" the first eve, it was great to meet such wild and wacky 
personalities as Datto and Give Me Chocolate for the Very First Time, and 
let's not forget the quiet but fun Sharon, ATWannabe, Mrs. Gorp (quiet? not 
at 4am!) and all the "regulars" I've met before. Give Me Chocolate had the 
*best* one-liners of the weekend, but I bow to her to repeat them (I'm 
certainly NOT gonna!). And let's just say that the chili battle is STILL on, 
so look to the Ruck for some damn fiery chili! 

Next year, DONT MISS Nimblewill Nomad's presentation. I've never seen an 
audience been so captivated by a speaker. He's a master storyteller. A 
preacher for hiking. Everyone should hear his talk. Ken Waddell's slideshow 
was amazing as well, from a WOW standpoint. Stellar photography. Buy the 
book. WOW. 

And as for next year, yes, I did tell Beau I'd take on the baton. So give me 
your feedback as to what you'd like to see or do. (See separate post)

Re-energized by the weekend (although I do seem to have my bronchitis back 
after camping out, big bummer, coughed the whole way back down the coast), I 
drove through the Greens and the Berkshires, also new territory to me. 
Vermont is awesome with all those little villages and NO McD's and NO 
Walmart. I could learn to love living in a place like that. Followed the 
Taconic State Parkway just so I could see the Catskills again-- stomping 
ground from when I was a wee little hiker with mum & dad. 

Stopped at DWG hostel. Eau de thru hiker apparent immediately on opening door.

Me: "Anyone seen Felix?"
Three people look up from their pizza slices, but only for a moment
Her: "Who's Felix?"
Me: "Southbounder"
Him: "Haven't heard of Felix in the registers..."
Me: "Oops. Southbound last season. Section hiking now."
Him: "Ahhhhhh....nope."
Hands me register. I look. No Felix.
Me: "Thanks."

Thought a moment about offering a ride or something, but they were deep into 
communing with their pizza again. So I headed off towards Easton, figuring I 
wouldn't try to hike in and meet Felix after all.

Did the I-81 thing on the way back, pretty much. More serious serendipity 
along the way, thanks to hiker karma. Another Crampton Gap experience, this 
time in the sunshine and with the museum director. Killer fall foliage around 
Ronoake and Damascus (where car turned 122,900 miles. Meaningful.). Back 
through Erwin (wave to Red!) and up past Asheville ...awesome ride on US 23, 
but no hikers at the border. The car turned 123,000 miles at Forks of Ivy. 
Meaningful? 

Now back in FL, missing the Appalachians BAD after just leaving them 24 hours 
ago...I need mountains. MOUNTAINS! 4,000 miles later...whew. What a trip.

Cheers, Navigator



 
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