The Hiking "Hayride"

by Missy "Hayride" Manning

I'm married to a criminal defense attorney, Tommy Manning. We have three children age 23,21, and 17. We live on twenty acres outside of Raleigh where Tommy practices law. Our address is Wake Forest, but it could easily be Creedmoor or Durham. We live about 11 miles from each of these communities.

Falls Lake is almost in our backyard.

And yes, I have hiked it many times, but have ridden my horse there more, until the powers-that-be ran us out. In fact, most of the trails you see around Falls Lake we created with our horses 15 years ago. Other than riding, which I don't to as much of anymore, I garden. I have a huge vegatable garden, which could take all of my time, but I have a tendency to let the weeds get the best of the garden. Reading is my other pastime. For the past year-and-a-half, my time has been consumed with the thru-hike.

I spent eight months planning my thru-hike. I was indeed well-prepared, but found that my perspective changed while on the trail. Thru-hiking is generally about making the miles .... but as the story I am about to relate shows, sometimes the miles are not the most important thing.

In late May, my 21-year-old daughter, "No Worries," had just joined me on the trail. She wants to finish the rest of the trail this year. Our little trail family had come back together after a few days of not seeing esch other. My hiking partner "Twig ," his son "Twiggy," "Hoosier Mama," and "Gypsy," and I had spent the night at a campsite about a mile-and-a-half from the trailhead at VA 11 and I-81. The only member of our trail family not with us was "Lone Wolf," who had gotten hung up at Trail Days and was desperately trying to catch us. This particular day turned into a really bad day for me. it was very hot and humid. By the time I arrived at Knot Maul Shelter, I was exhausted.

"Hossier Mama," "Gypsy," "Twig" and I had run into a rattlesnake guarding a picture of Elvis. That snake did not like the idea that we were on his turf, but that's another story. After dealing with the snake, and tramping through the cow pastures, I arrived at the base of the mountain before Knot Maul. Somehow "Twig" got me up that mountain and into camp. I fell exhausted into my tent. I needed water badly and the water source was to far away for my poor tired body to retrieve. Once again my trail family came to the rescue. "Twiggy" had set up my tent, "No Worries" brought me water, and "Twig" cooked my dinner. A couple of hours later I had recovered, thanks to my trail family.

The next day brought us to Lick Creek after three miles. "No Worries" was the first to arrive at this lovely spot. She was sitting on the newly built bulkhead reading a book and enjoying the babblings of the creek. Then I arrived and sat down with her. Next, "Twiggy" appeared and danced his way across the foot bridge. "Twiggy" sat on the top step to the bridge. "Hoosier Mama" and "Gypsy" came trip-trapping over the bridge next and they, too, found a place to perch. "Twig" rolled in 30 minutes later, stopped in the middle of the bridge, took off his pack and looked out over Lick Creek, as if he had found home. At this point, we had only walked three miles.

Did you guys in PATH put a hiker-magnet under that thing when you made repairs? We sat and sat enjoying the creek and suddenly around the bend came "Lone Wolf' with "Baltimore Jack" in tow. Both were still walking off their Trail Days adventures. Having "Lone Wolf' back with the family was reason enough for all of us to call it a day. It was only 12: 30 p.m., but we had found home for the night.

We all set up our tents there on the north side of the creek and soon enough the babbling of Lick Creek was lost to peals of laughter as "Baltimore Jack" regaled us with his adventure of sleeping with a rather dead hedgehog during Trail Days. It was one of those rare trail days when hikers come together for good times and memories. Lick Creek attracted us like that rattlesnake was drawn to the picture of Elvis. There is no explaining why one day may be a hard one on the trail or why the very next day will be great. I think Lick Creek had something to do with that fine day!!

So thanks to all of you who helped to make the Lick Creek crossing.