What's Buddha Got To Do With It? May 11, 2022 Day 71 Mile ???

This is where I left you on April 25th:

I'll be back on the trail tomorrow hiking NOBO again with Martian.

And, trying to post more frequent, shorter posts about my knee, my crown, my hearing aid, my blood pressure, my new tent, my second new pack and so many wonderful people.

Be well.

Buddha

Back on the Trail

On April 27, Liz Murphy, my daughter by choice if not by name, drove me back to the the Blue Ridge Mountains.  With some luck and skill we found Martian at the Cornelius Creek Shelter in Virginia. He was settling in with Spillz, Juice Box,  Laps, Marathon, Penguin and others. We surprised them with some Miller High Life, Gatorade, and fatty snacks.  

I was excited to be back and true to form Martian suggested we watch the sunset from the Blue Ridge Parkway nearby.  Liz and I pitched our tents and set off with Martian to watch the sun set from a nearby clearing along the Blue Ridge Highway.  Afterwards, excited to sleep in my new lighter weight Gossamer Gear 2P tent .  I slept like a baby - as I always do in the woods.    

Martian, Liz & I catch the Blue Ridge Mountain sunset

In the morning we awoke to the sound of songbirds.  My new tent worked great but I'm determined to pitch it better next time to minimize condensation within.  After breakfast, Liz headed out in the car to do some hiking and exploring on her own.  I threw on my pack and again hiked north with Martian and the gang.  With my newly "repaired" knee, I decided to lighten my load and left my food, tent and sleeping bag in the car.  At 3pm, after 20 miles of hiking Martian and I met Lizzie on trail as she hiked south from the VA 501 trailhead to meet us.  She shuttled us into into Glasgow, Virginia for the night.  

Liz and I cross the James River behind Martian

We stayed at an Eagle Scout built shelter in Glasgow's park right behind the Ricci's Italian Restaurant. Hikers love a good Italian restaurant. Muggles share pizzas.  Thru-hikers eat them whole then look at the dessert menu.

Back at the shelter, with some new friends, I was compelled to introduce one of my favorite trail games.  I ran across the street to the convenience store to find Oreos.  The hiker resupply products, in an aisle of their own, were so expensive.  Oreos: $5.99!  I found generic vanilla sandwich cookies for $2.49 and ran back to the shelter.  Then, to demonstrate, I placed a cookie tween my eyebrows and then maneuvered it into my mouth without using my hands.  Laughter and cookies. Smiles.

Juice Box attempts to Oreo game while Laps looks on.

In my tent later, fun and games aside, I assessed the knee situation: I had felt some knee pain on some of the steepest terrain, but it wasn't bad. The 20 miles had overall felt easy.  This might work. Yay! I slept like a baby in my brand new ultralight tent, eager to hike on the next day.  

In the morning Lizzie shuttled us all back to the trail head in two trips.  Then she was off in the Subaru to visit her 28th national park - Shenandoah. Our next campsite at Brown Mountain Creek lay 22 miles ahead.  About 8-9 hours of hiking.  Crossing my fingers I set out.

As I hiked, the supportive but concerned face of my physical therapist, Michelle Lucas, appeared before me.  I was coming to realize what she surely knew but I had refused to acknowledge. I had returned to the trail too soon.  I had spent weeks bashing up my knee.  I gave her a week and two one hour sessions to show me how to heal. I did my exercises.  And, she did a fabulous job.  But, she is no magician and I am not a patient patient. I knew right then I was heading home again.  Home to the Burgh.  Back to my therapist, and ice packs, and rest.  And, patience.  This hike is a marathon not a sprint I reminded myself.

The decision made I hiked on enjoying the gorgeous Brown Mountain Creek mesmerized by the wildflowers, and curious about the remnants of the small community of freed slaves that settled here in the early 1900s.  Stone walls, chimneys and other structural remnants were all that remained of the community in this beautiful valley.  It was forested as I walked through it, but must have been logged before these refugees settled here to farm.  I hiked on smiling and realizing once again how easy my life is.

Interpretive signage along Brown Mountain Creek

When I walked into camp I let Martian know he was again going to have to hike on without me.  I'd meet him up trail when I healed up.  Martian continued to hike north - at a blistering pace covering hundreds of miles without me.  Then I jumped back on where Martian was - where my friend was and ahead of the bubble - a relative crowd of hikers only a hundred miles or so behind.  At this point, I've left hundreds of miles of trail in Virginia that I will have to hike after I reach Mt. Katahdin in Maine.  

So, in the morning I hiked a short two miles til the first road crossing and said adieu to Martian one more time.

Martian hikes on without me, again
Notice the boxes of shoes left for hikers.

Off the trail on a country road, I needed to arrange my extraction.  Lizzie was still in the region and could collect me if I could only communicate with her. Step 1: get a cell signal. Smile on the face, thumb in the air. Twenty minutes later, a lovely couple (I regret not getting their picture and likely bungling their names, but I want to thank them all the same - Amy &  Brad?) made a U-turn, and drove me 20 minutes back in the opposite direction to drop me off in the nearest town.  A message to Lizzie, a couple hours hanging out at the Hardee's in Buena Vista, Virginia, and I was extracted!

My thru-hike interrupted again, Liz and I chose to combine retreat with fun.  We headed west toward Pittsburgh, but on our way enjoyed a lovely night of riverside camping at New River Gorge National Park.  Liz prepared the fire,

Relaxing by the fire Liz conjured along the New River, WV

and cooked up a fabulous camp meal for us.  I love my ramen bomb.  I really do.  But, this was real food, in a cast iron skillet.  We dined on vegan pulled pork sandwiches, mac n' cheese and a lovely green salad accompanied by a some hoppy beverages.  Another night of heaven on earth for me.  We rolled home toward Pittsburgh in the morning.   But not before meeting other campers who ... this is the way my life works ... were moving into our Pittsburgh neighborhood and were passionate - like me - about urban farming.  We promised to connect when I return in the fall.  New friends!!  

I Feel Good

Saturday morning, April 30, and I'm back home on Pittsburgh's South Side Slopes.  I can see the roof of the physical therapy office from my window.   It's only three blocks away, on the other side of the railroad tracks.   I'd spent weeks  bounding down hills too fast and knocking my knee cap off its track.  Now I'm home in the city.  Not in the woods. Not on the AT.   It's gonna take more time.   I'm hoping two weeks more work will be enough.  That's becomes my plan.  Two weeks more should do it.  I book PT appointments. Two per week with daily exercises at home should do the trick.

I get a text from my friend, Dips (see Post 1) "How are you mentally?"  She knows this kind of setback can be tougher psychologically than it is physically.  "I'm mentally good.", I reply.  "Thinking 1-2 weeks / wait n see.  I'm optimistic."  

I love that she checked on me.  Then she asked, How ya feeling?  

I replied "Other than my knee which feels meh." 

What The Heck Am I Happy About?

I live a charmed life every day.  My worst days are better than most folks good days. 

Granted, my knee hurts enough today to make the odds of completing this thru-hike lower.  How much lower?  I don't know.  But, only 1 in 5 finish the hike.  A bum knee is not an advantage.  This would seem like a bummer, bad news, something to get me down.  

Well, it's not what I had hoped for. But, how can I be bummed when I am:

• spending months out in the beautiful mountains and valleys within a compassionate community (more later)
• safe (other than the risks I pose to myself)
• secure (roof over my head, food in the fridge, money in the bank, etc)
• retired. And, yes, I am enjoying it very much.  And, no, I am not bored.
• healthy other than the knee and a few other minor items mentioned earlier (see below)
• loved

So, I returned to Pittsburgh happy and worked on finding more smiles in flowers.  First, I got some things scheduled:

            ✅physical therapy sessions Tuesday and Friday morning

            ✅flights to San Francisco to see my son, Jake & Debbie's family
            ✅confirm my son Jonah's plans to visit me in Pittsburgh next week 

Thursday I see a John Mayer concert with Deb.  A show postponed from February that thanks to my knee injury I was able to enjoy. We had a fabulous night!

John Mayer gave a great show at PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh

Saturday, Deb and I flew out to spend the weekend in San Francisco with my son and some of Deb's family.  We watched her grand niece, Brigit, play kiddie soccer on Chrissy Field with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, walked along the bay, enjoyed dinner with my son Jake and provided him with a modicum of packing assistance.  A wonderful weekend.  

My next AT stop: Apparently, Powell & Market, San Francisco

Posing in front of the famed Painted Ladies Victorian homes in San Francisco with Deb.
NOT!  The Painted Ladies were one block to the right! Oh well

Deb & I help Jake a wee bit with packing up

Flight Delays - An Opportunity

Before we could get back to Pittsburgh, Deb and I had to spend some extra time at Oakland International Airport enjoying flight delays.  There are a few places you can find serenity in an airport: pricey airline clubs, chapels, and rooms for nursing mothers (so I imagine).  But, for Deb & I its Vino Volo.  

While we were  enjoying a flight of World Value Reds the gentleman at the next table asks me about a book I'm holding.  Moments later we welcome Tai Sheridan, our new friend to our table.   We had a delightful conversation that made our layover a wonderful retreat.  Tai is a delightful writer and a gift to the world.  Among many books, he has written my new favorite introduction to and complete treatment of Buddhism … in 39 pages: Buddha in Blue Jeans (free on Kindle).  Thanks Southwest for the delayed flight.

Smiling flowers everywhere.

Jonah Rosario and Clover in the Burgh

Returning home to Pittsburgh, I am lucky to be visited by my Brooklyn-based son Jonah and his lovely girlfriend, Clover.  We walk, we talk, we hug, we laugh. we break bread, we clink glasses.  What more could I want?  What more do I need?  Not a thing.

Jonah snaps Clover at Clover St, Pittsburgh

Louie in bed at home in Pittsburgh. 
Wish I could take him with me!

Learning to Smile Again

Find a smile in a flower
                                        ~Thich Nhat Hahn

I heard Thich Nhat Hahn recommend this as an aide to finding your own smile.  Lucky me - I look at flowers all day when I'm hiking.  And, often bend over to take a rushed and blurry shot.  Some passable pics from Virginia follow:

Rock harlequin

Philadelphia (common) fleabane

Rue-anemone

Azalea

Trillium

Fire pink

Dwarf crested iris

Flower also smile at me in Pittsburgh ...

Magnolia

Japanese barberry (noxious invasive weed - don't landscape with this!)

What's Buddha Got To Do With It?

Do I want to finish this long hike? You bet. 

How I will do so is yet to be seen.  I intend to finish, but cannot say for sure.  Bookies have changed my odds from maybe to lookin less likely. It could not be any other way.  Thus far my AT thru-hike has been  discontinuous.  I've already left the trail three times to return to Pittsburgh or beyond.  I developed PFPS or Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome of the right knee and I've still got 75% of the trail left to hike!  

Did I ignore the obvious and cause this injury by running down soft slopes with my pack on, charging steep downhills like a mogul skier, all while failing to take the time to stretch?  Most definitely.  There are plenty who could wear the "I Told You So" crown.

So, my hike from Georgia to Maine is not going to be a fast or continuous effort. For the second time I've watched my hiking buddy hike ahead while I head to the showers, and possibly to the injured reserve list!

It will, however, be what it will be.  And, it will be perfect just as it is and has been.  I have made so many beautiful sights, sounds, scents, sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, lightning bolts, mysteries, answers, mysteries and at the heart of it all: friends.  

So why do I hike around as Buddha?  First, it's better than Wrong Way - the other name my behavior suggested in 2018.

Second, I am happy with my lot.  I live better than 99% of the world's inhabitants.  I expect that my plans for the future may not play out.  My past is littered with unfulfilled dreams, failed efforts, mistakes, and redirection.  

Instructive maybe. But, it should be kept on the shelf like a reference book not read and reread like some thrilling historical novel.  

Accept the past for what it is.  Like a leaf that floated by on a stream.  Bright, crisp and green,  Or, brown, cracked and curled.  Either way they're gone downstream.

I've had hopes dashed.  A marriage of thirty years.  Several business ventures.  My 2018 thru hike.  But, I watched that shit float away like a leaf on a river.  I try to let the past go easily with a friendly good bye.  Good bye shame.  Good bye failures.  I try not to hold onto the past or grasp at the future.  So, my AT hike will, apparently, include knee injury, interruptions, separations from friends, sections to make up.  Will I be able to hike the remaining, 1,500 miles or so?  We will find out.

But, every day I am at home within my happy journey. Lucky me.

I invite you to join me.  Reach out to me.  My hands are outstretched and I'll gladly put my poles down for a hug.

Be well my friends

~Buddha (the one you know, not the one who lived 2500 years ago)

The moon and sun are eternal travelers.

Even the years wander on.

A lifetime adrift in a boat or in old age leading a tired horse into the years, every day is a journey,

and the journey itself is home

~Matsuo Basho

P.S.  I still haven't mastered the art of hiking or blogging and certainly not both together.  But, going forward I'm gonna take a dedicated zero weekly in order to rest my older bones and get the blog published in a more timely manner.  And, if you can teach an old dog new tricks I will try to post frequently and regularly to Instagram Feed (not stories which disappear).  Thanks for your patience.

Oh What A Night | April 25 2022 | Day 54 | Mile 535.1

Double Spring Shelter was full, of course.  With a storm threatening and the nearest shelters eight miles north or south there would be no room at the inn tonight.  All six slots would be full.  

And, they were all taken when we arrived around 6.  The folks in the shelter were glad to have gotten space. I know I would have been.  Large trees were already swaying in the wind.  Set atop an amphitheater valley, there were no flat spaces nearby to pitch my tent.  Two Ball let us know there was room for one maybe two tents down near the springs where he had pitched.  I pitched my tent and Martian squeezed his in between Two Ball and I.  A quick dinner and time for bed.

I slid into my shelter.  A four year old Nemo Horney 2 person tent.  I was comfy in this tent.  And, at just over two pounds it was light weight.  But,  it was four years old with a 3 1/2 year old patched and re-patched mouse hole in the floor, and seams that had started coming apart during a few windy nights. I'd been regluing seems since Franklin, North Carolina. So, counting the seconds tween boom and flash I dozed off wondering how wet I'd get.  

I awoke at 5:50.  The percussion of steady rain and wind on my tent fly replaced the morning sound of birds.  I was pleasantly surprised to note that I was dry and warm as I silenced the alarm.  I called over to Martian.  He groaned his awakeness.  I was well rested, comfy, and dry.  I did not relish getting out of my tent or to pack up in the rain. And, while the birds were quiet in the downpour I could hear Martian questioning simply how his new tent was wet inside.  F---! F---!  F---! His new tent had water inside!  He was not happy.  I felt a bit smug in my dryness. 

Right then, headlamp retrieved from it's night spot above my head, I sit up, and my toes sense a cool corner in the bottom of my bag.  Then the light beam illuminates my shirt half-floating in pool that is the lower half of my tent.  I am above the water on my air pad-cum-flotation device.  I smiled as I pulled the bottom of my bag out of the pool. My electronics, meds and other small gear are all floating in their zip locks.  Yay!  Serenaded by Martian's regularly repeating expletives, and perhaps a little less smug, I packed up my wet clothes, wet tent and mostly dry sleeping bag. ;-)

When you're wet, and it's pouring it's best to double down and get hiking.  I knew the hill ahead would warm me up as we headed out in the dark downpour.  A couple hours later the rain gave way to a drying wind.  We hiked quickly to Damascus motivated by dreams of drying out at the Broken Fiddle hostel, and getting some town victuals.  We figured we'd arrive by two or three.  But, motivated by a desire to drop our heavy, wet packs we moved rolled into town one. 

Once again, I was glad to be in Trail Town, USA.  Damascus, Virginia.  I'd posed with Serendipity last year just as Trail Days were kicking off.

Martian & I  |   April 8, 2022

    

   Serendipity & I   |   May 10, 2021

 

But, I regress.  Martian and I entered Damascus at the end of my last post.  Oy!  Digressions. Diversions.  Recursions. Excursions.

Back to Damascus ...

The Broken Fiddle

After walking through the archway we walked the next mile straight down Laurel Ave to drop our packs at the Broken Fiddle hostel and head to Wicked Chicken with Martian and Aaron for grub & brews. 

I spent a lot of time walking this small trail town the rest of that day and the next.  Miles between hostel, library, diner, outfitter, and other shops - miles that don't count.   But miles that help you get to know the town and the people.  Damascus offered plenty of new friends.   

Me & Mini-Me

Trippy Hippy & I

Crazy Larry, owner Outdoors Inn

 

Life around the Broken Fiddle is very chill - just the way I like my hostels.  Hikers hung out on the covered patio amid the snow falling outside.   Cold temps and cool people.  What do I mean?  Peach arrived with pizza and made chili with a special veggie batch for me .  Cous Cous whipped up a tasty stir fry and a deep dish breakfast pie.  Temps dropped. Snow fell, darts were thrown, music played, tales told, laughs shared.  

PaintSplash's pup shows Cous Cous how to relax

Snow falls 

Jake and I in our loaner clothes.

Treehouse

Peach

Timber

  

Hiking in Snow

Saturday morning Martian and I hiked out on a beautiful snowy day.  Light snow fell from above and as we climbed the snow below grew deeper.  We had a quick and unambitious plan.  Be picked up by a friend eleven miles north of town at 1 pm with the express purpose of returning to Damascus for more victuals and another night in a bunk.  We were successful on all counts.

Martian heads into a snowy Rhody tunnel

Joe's Pup tells me a secret at Damascus Brewing Co

Famous on Reddit

OK, not famous, but while in Damascus, Martian shows me this post by a student from Kennesaw State who we had camped with on a windy night in the Roan Highlands.

Grayson Highlands

Hiking NOBO you hear about Grayson Highlands for a couple of reasons.  Seasoned veterans tell you not to get rid of your warm clothing 'til you are past this tall part of Virginia.  And, everyone hopes to see the ponies.

Hiking north you cross VA 600 at Elk Gardens and pass through a turnstyle.  And, there are wild ponies with varying levels of human tolerance.  Last year I hiked this section and only saw a few ponies up close.  But, this year ponies were everywhere we went for two days.  

Grayson's ponies in 2021 with Serendipity and Wallflower

Martian with the first pony we saw. April 2022

We came across a group of friends who hike every other Sunday with Sadie.  Blue Daisy and Sally captivated us and gave us home made cookies.  Thanks!

Sadie wonders why I'm down on my knee

Blue Daisy & Sally

 

It was snowy in the Grayson Highlands, as it should have been.  We took a short side trip to summit Mt. Rogers, Virginia's tallest peak at 5,729'.  It was the ice box you'd expect in a Spruce Fir forest at altitude.  Well worth the time and effort to visit.

In the middle of Grayson Highlands we crossed the 500 mile marker.  Photo op!

500 mile marker, NOBO 2022

   

Guam& I @ Old Orchard Shelter

 

Aquaman!

Tues, April 12th was full of special appearances.  Heading up hill and up north I greeted a SOBO hiker, who introduced himself as Aquaman.  "Aquaman!", I exclaimed.  "I know you.  I followed your hike ... at least until I started my own."  A legend on the trail.  He started December 6, 2021 from Mt. Katahdin, Maine and hiked south through freezing temps, ice and snow.  I was expecting to cross his path in Virginian, but he was almost done with it.  With only 3 or 3 1/2 weeks to go, he was cruising.  And, as lovely a guy as you could meet.  Check out his hike here: Scott Benerofe's SOBO AT

Martian, Aquaman and I

Mighty Magic and Pizza Delivery

Martian was ahead of me as I came up behind a hiker who was heading in to Partnership slowly with painful knees.  Naturally, as we got to know each other I decided to walk the remaining miles with her.  She was completing a gap in the thru hike she started last April.  In 3 miles she would complete here thru-hike.  We had a great time walking in.  Sharing.  Learning.  Laughing.  It was magic.  Might Mouse magic.  And, her car was parked at the trail head with a case of Miller Highlife and Gatorade.

Little things matter.  Adults act like children when the pinata cracks open for the simplest things.  Beverages.  Food.  And, Food and Beverages.  You hear the whispers in the Grayson Highlands.  "You can order pizza at Partnership Shelter.  The shelter is next to the Mt Rogers State Park Office which has a phone and menus outside.  I haven't eaten pizza in a while.  But, Martin and I each ate our own pie at Partnership that eve.  The two of sat there alone in another large shelter.  Two story with room for 24.  And, we had a case of beer and pizza was on its way.  We laughed.  All was right in the evening air.  

Later when Lucky arrived and wanted pizza, Martian and I ordered another to meet the delivery minimum.  We could only eat a few more slices.  In the morning, Rollo, Squints and Mitchell rolled in and with pinata-breaking glee ate the cold pizza and warm Miller Highlights.  All was right with the morning.

Martian, Mighty Mouse & I

The High Life via Magic

Proud owner of a pizza

My pie flew away quickly

Neither Martian or I had started a camp fire since we started.  We've supported other's efforts by collecting wood on cold nights.  We'd rather just get in our sleeping bags, I guess.  But, arriving at Partnership at 3:00 gave us lots of time.  So, I got to sleep cowboy style next to the fire.  All was right with the night.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

  

Sleeping cowboy with fire and moonlight

The Next 340 Miles in One Paragraph

Later thar morning, with pizza boxes, Gatorade empties and crushed cans in the HQ's dumpster we set out for a 20 mile day that would get us to mile 549, the quarter way point on the trail, and my planned exit point for a week long break in Pittsburgh.  But, my right knee was buckling every step up the first good hill.  The pain had started days earlier but today was too much.  So, Martian went on and I started to look for a ride to the hostel that Martian was hiking to.  Ranger picked me up hitching to Marion, VA.  His mother would never let him forget it if he didn't pick up a hitcher in need.  At Pike's garage, Pike was glad to rent me a 20' box truck - the only rental I could find.  A quickish drive to Erwin, Tennessee (a story I just can't get into) and a late night arrival and early departure from the lovely Quarter Inn Hostel [Sorry, Tina for my bull in a china shop imitation!].  Return the truck in Greensboro, a Lyft to the airport, and I'm on my way to Pittsburgh on American.

Ranger drove me to Marion.  Hike well, my friend

On way to Erwin, TN or Greensboro, NC??

Waiting at Reagan in DC

Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris at PIT

Home with Lizzie and Louie

My stagger towards Maine

I'll be back on the trail tomorrow hiking NOBO again with Martian.

And, trying to post more frequent, shorter posts about my knee, my crown, my hearing aid, my blood pressure, my new tent, my second new pack and so many wonderful people.

Be well.

Buddha