FROM MISERY TO MASTERFUL

The  morning  started  out  optimistically  with a view of  the green  hills  blue skies  and perfectly  arranged  clouds . But after climbing  a seemingly  endless  bald, the fog rolled in the wind picked  up  and the trail  again  was filled  with  treacherous  rocks  lying in wait for an unsuspecting  ankle. My joints  began  to  throb and I  began  to  think  it will  never  get better .  Never. I was miserable , more  miserable  than Treys Gap when I  was  sure I  would  get blown  off the  mountain .  More miserable than blue blazing through  the  smokies. Miserable. Done? No I  can’t  be, I  thought .  But I  was thinking  it.

Then I started  descending  into the protection  of  the  woods  and Dave a section  hiker from  Charlotte  showed up .  I   got  talking , picked up  my  pace, and forgot about  my aches  and  pains. We hiked at the  speed of light to the bottom  where  his car awaited to drop me off at  a burger stand. I ate the best, I mean the best hamburger and  fries EVER. Washed it down with some of Miss Betty sweet tea and got a ride back to  the  trail  from a local pastor who  is  also a hiker and even works part time  with the military. His  wife  crowded  in the back with an infant t, a toddler, and a look that said her husband  does this  all the time .

Still with the taste of Miss Bettys sweet tea, I ascended  the mountain thinking  I  should  have  had some of  her peanut butter  cake too. The day was glorious. The trail filly turned into  hard packed dirt covered with , leaves , kinda  what  you  think  a trail should  look  like .  I found  an awesome spot by the small fast flowing stream and met Finch a budding ornohthologist    from Carlisle  Pa. We talked about  our home state and eventually  I  fell asleep under the full moon. Done no, masterful , yes.