5/6/01
Now's a good chance to catch up on trail news while journaling in the comfort of the Maples B&B. Tubesteak and Keystone were off the trail for a week while Keystone recovered from a bout with Giardia in a hospital. The dreaded Giardia is a nasty little parasite creature that lurks in tainted water sources and any of us could pick it up through careless sanitation habits around water. Serge has left the trail to spend time with his pregnant wife. We miss him but I hear he plans to come back and do week hiking to visit and enjoy the trail. Good luck to Serge and Jennifer and stay in touch. Sea Wolf is off the trail due to an ankle or knee injury. I hear he may come back after sufficient recovery so best of luck to him. Will Scarlet took a nasty fall on Friday and was rescued by Harp and Spoon who helped him get to a road, then flagged a car to get him to the hospital. He chipped two teeth, apparently, and cut open his face, requiring stitches. I think daily about the fact that a thru-hiker is only one wrong step from being off the trail temporarily or for the entire year. The trail is full of rocks, roots, mud, sand and other impediments which challenge the hiker every step of the way. Finally, Stovetop is off the trail due to a hernia suffered while hiking. He flew back home for surgery and I hear plans to return to the trail to section hike upon recovery. The rest of the thru-hiker wave continues to move northward at varying degrees of speed. This morning Paula and I ate a great breakfast at Maples B&B and Paula is now napping while I catch upon journaling. The plan today is to drop me off back at Atkins where I will resume hiking and Paula will return home for another week of holding up the fort and working. More on today's adventures later. RABBIT
