Day 66

Today marks 66 days on the trail................well not 66 days on the trail but 66 days since I dropped Will off on Springer Mountain. THere have been a few off days............days with no hiking, spent relaxing and mending sore feet. Two days recently involved a different kind of break............volunteering to work with a group dedicated to giving something back to "the trail."

Will felt giving something back was an important part of his overall experience. After "trail days" in Damascus, he along with other volunteers spent two days carving out new sections to the trail. I am not sure of the reason, but there were a few places along the trail that required repair. THe volunteers cleared trees, busted rock, and moved portions of the trail. He told me "it's the hardest I have ever worked." He went on to say he was glad he took the time to experience the work as it made him feel good about giving back. It's great to hear he is growing in his appreciation of life's greatest lesson........giving is blessing.......even when it hurts a little.

TOday, Will is in Waynesville, Va. camping outside of the local YMCA. With him is a hiker he has spent some time with when hiking from NC into Va. (Trail name Upgrade) There are several other hikers who are camping with him tonight. They all hitched into town from the trail together.

He seemed excited about entering the Shenandoah Valley tomorrow and expects to be in the Shenandoah about four days. Now that he has 853 miles in he felt he could be in Harpers Ferry by next Sunday. Harpers Ferry is the halfway mark on the AT.

He sounds good! After two days of hiking with a heavy coating of calamine lotion and looking strange he finally has gotten relief from the Poison Ivy outbreak. He has endured a few hardships on the trail but to me this has got to be one of the most uncomfortable aliments one would have to endure. It's all part of the experience. Through it all Will has persevered and continues to be full of awareness of all of the beauty around him.

Just today he talked about this gorgeous Diamond Back Rattler he saw as he took a moment (biological break) off the trail. Luckily he remembered my advice not to handle venomous snakes while on the trail, however he said it was tempting not to do so.

Beth packed a nice box and shipped out "Mom's Goodies" on Saturday. She sent it to Linden, Va. We talked about how this must be kind of like Christmas for these hikers when they receive a package from home. It led us to think about how those kids must feel when getting their shoeboxes from Operation Christmas Child. Inside Will's box was;

1. a new media card (so he can send us his.......we can't wait for his pictures)

2. Mom's trail mix

3. new recipes - complete with ingredients

4. que tips

5. one thermal pad (he will use this to make flip flops to use around camp and a seat cushion)

6. Probably some other stuff I can't remember

THis week we received a post card from Will that I will share with you;

"Man you would not believe how well the churches are treating me. I just got a medical screening and this really cute college girl washed my nasty feet. I felt terrible! I weigh 158 now and have 8% body fat. I have lost ten pounds in two months that I couldn't really afford to lose. I love and miss my family so much. I hope that I am making ya'll proud."

Actually, he has been doing that the past nineteen years.