Day 8: Letters From the Shelter

TUCKAHOE STATE PARK, MD —

April 1, 2024

Day 8:

Embracing hands in a ring atop the damp concrete of Denton’s Walmart parking lot, the Weaber family lifted my safety in prayer to the God of their own understanding. Imbued with their hearts, I made my way to Tuckahoe State Park, passing through the remainder of Denton and Ridgely along the route.

Fifteen miles later, I arrived at a shelter built by an Eagle Scout specifically designated for ADT thru-hikers, where I discovered a receptacle containing a communal notebook filled with words from hikers who came before me.

An entry from March 22, written by Alan Aims, a man from Orkney Aisles, Scotland, popped off the page. I share these words with his permission:

“You know that scene in Forrest Gump when (Forrest) asks Jenny to marry him? She rejects his proposal then later that night goes up to his room making his dreams come true, only for them to be shattered in the morning when he wakes to find that she’s gone. The camera pans to a broken-hearted Forrest, who gets up and goes for a run. Why? He just felt like running, coast-to-coast, for three years. For the long distance hiker, whether it’s heartbreak or some other void in your life, I hope the American Discovery Trail will help you discover more about yourself. When you hit the other ocean from whence you started, it will be like shedding a skin. For the thru-hikers posting on social media, thank you for sharing advice for those who are to follow. The trail, however, is about your sense of freedom, to seek how resourceful you can be in challenges, and to know there is always the kindness of strangers. So limit your phone activity to checking maps or checking your distance every other day. This ADT shelter is a blessing, so thank you to whomever made it so that I may sleep safely tonight. May more donations or volunteers come forth so that the thru-hiker never has to jeopardize miles for sake of the only rest. Get up. Pick up your mat. And walk.”

Immediately following Alan's passage, I found an entry from Matt the masochist, whose minimalist language has no doubt kept him light-footed amidst the weight of rain.