Brett called me while eating his lunch on the top of a mountain. He had good cell phone reception and wanted to call me while he had a chance (didn't want to miss my birthday). Lunch was a tortilla with tuna fish and hot sauce.
Brett said that is was a nice day, the first nice day he had in over a week. He was enjoying an absolutely clear sky. It had cooled down to 60 degrees the previous night and was supposed to go down to the 50's that night. With a light breeze on the mountain, dry air, and a slightly wet shirt, Brett was almost chilly. He said he was looking forward to snuggling up in his sleeping bag instead of laying naked on top. The weather in Penn. has been unseasonably hot with high humidity. He said he was hearing locals complain about the weather, and didn't think they were used to is.
Brett said they got some of the tail winds of Albert, a tropical storm that came through. It rained for about a day and a half.
Brett woke up to a clear, bright sunny morning and started hiking early. He finished 10 miles by lunch and only had 6 more miles to go before his goal of reaching the 501 Shelter. The 501 Shelter is close to the road. You can order pizza there, and there is also a place to charge cell phones.
Brett said people easily recognize him as "The Dude". While I was on the phone with Brett another hiker said, "Oh, you must be 'The Dude'." I asked Brett how this hiker would know that if they had never met before. Brett said if the hiker had seen his name in a log, it would be easy for him to match the name with the right person. Recently another hiker said to Brett, "I sure hope your name is 'Lebowski' or something like that." When Brett told him that it was "The Dude", this hiker replied that Brett had one of the most fitting names. I have never seen the movie this is from, but apparently the resemblance is striking.
Brett had complained about his knee hurting. When I asked him about it again, Brett said that it is not bothering him anymore, but that it did take about a week for the pain to go away. Now his has a cramp in the bottom of the foot. He's not the only one who is feeling the aches and pains. He said everyone walks with the Hiker Hobble. Your body stiffens up after any kind of break. Brett did say that the hills are almost getting easier. Brett has consistently complaining about going uphill, so this was good new to hear.
Brett got some poison ivy. He said that is bothering him. When treated, it heals faster. But Brett said it would probably take a couple of weeks for the rash to completely clear up.
Brett said that he had a nice visit with his friend Don. Brett could have stayed longer, but he felt like he needed to get going. He didn't want to sit around too much. Brett and Don worked together on an out-of-town project in GA some years ago, but Don is friends with a dentist her in Niceville. Another case of It's a Small World.
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