baptism by tropical storm

well...we survived our first day on the AT ...and a wet day it was. what started out as misty showers turned into flat out downpour by the time we got to the shelter to discover (no big surprise here) that it was packed with other hikers. fortunately we found an overhang and found a cozy spot to set up tent. nothing like sleeping under a downpour - it lulls you to sleep. yesterday mother nature asked : "you didn't think this was gonna be easy, did you?" this morning woke up and trekked .4 miles on steep downhill to get water for breakfast. a bug landed into my cheese grits just as I went in for my first spoonful and I thought: PROTEIN! and swallowed it down. all part of the transformation... good bye polina, hello little pony. hoping mother nature will be kinder to us today.

ps- in amazement that we still have internet access.