So I am sixteen days away from leaving! I am getting very excited but also very nervous. I keep thinking "I haven't trained enough! I haven't lost enough weight! I can't do this!" but I think I am just being silly. I hiked Stone Mountain yesterday, with my pack loaded to about 15 lbs. and my trekking poles attached. I thought I looked silly but two ladies I talked to at a rest stop on the way up told me that they see that sort of thing all the time. That made me feel better.
As I was beginning my hike, two young boys came up and asked me if I had a band-aid. Me, beign the prepared and efficient girl that I am, actually DID have my first aid kit with me and gladly gave the boy two band-aids for a large, bloody gash in his knee. He said he had fallen on the rock and that he knew if he asked a "real hiker" for a band-aid that she would have one. I almost cried tears of joy that this kid thought I was a REAL HIKER. I guess I looked official with my pack and poles. They thanked me for being a good samaritan and we all continued on our way. It was a minor experience but I was happy to be able to help.
Stone Mountain is a surprisingly challenging hike, especially with long pants and a pack in the heat! You would think 10am would be an ok time to hike but it got hot really fast! I was so relieved to make it to the top; I sat on a rock, enjoyed the view and munched on a granola bar. Then I saw a strange sight. A midget, wearing church clothes and church shoes, carrying a bible, had made his way up the mountain.
You would think someone in church clothes would just ride the gondola-thingy up there... but no. This guy came up behind me on the walk-up trail! In his grey slacks and button-down shirt! And totally alone. I was very confused. I was afraid that he was going to walk over and ask me if I had heard of this guy Jesus, but thankfully he didn't.
Anyway. I was glad that I did Stone Mountain alone... I think I might have been embarrassed at what a challenge it was to me in front of someone I knew, haha. It also gave me some time to reflect on things up at the top. Being up there really gives you perspective on how small we are. Just little ants on the earth that can do great damage or great kindnesses.
Ugh! It's too early to get all philosophical! I will leave you with this. I got a new backpack last week, made by Deuter. It came with a pretty yellow flower attached.
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3 comments:
hey lindsey, best of luck. remember, it's not the toughest physical specimens that make it to the top, it's the toughest mentally. you'll do great, i know it!
the midget in church clothes is hilarious! once while climbing Mt. Fitzroy in Argentina with my sister, on the way down from this insanely difficult climb, we passed about 50 japanese tourists wearing rubber gloves and face masks. the men wore pinstripe trousers and wingtips, and the women wore track suits in bright neon colors. I've never seen anything more bizarre or out of place in my life!
I think I would seriously freak out if I saw a midget toting a bible, I'd be all, "Is it time?"
BTW, I just read a book titled "Three Cups of Tea". It's about this mountaineer named Mortensen who failed to summit K2, but on his trek down he got lost and almost died. He was cared for by a local village in Pakistan and was appalled that they had no schools. He made a promise to them and built one years later . . . . awesome book! Good luck!!!
I am dying to know what the missionary midget's plans were...
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