[pct-l] Nemo's Side of the Story

[The Weathercarrot]

>From Nemo, received a few minutes ago:

----Original Message Follows----
Subject: Nemo's Side of the Story
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:54:11 EDT

I am writing this message from the Ashland area after crying for the past 
two
hours. Two of my dear friends, Radar and Weathercarrrot have sent me word
that my name has been slandered on the PCT-L site as of late over a terrible
misunderstanding. I will read you my journal entry from the day I arrived at
Drakesbaad Ranch, August 2nd, 2006.......

Day 99 26.8 miles today

Long day. Breathright and I walked the 15 miles to Drakesbaad Ranch after
hearing so much about how amazing they were to hikers. Bama said that they 
had
been feeding hikers for free or cheap all week and you can get a shower and 
a
swim for free and that we shouldn't miss it. I wanted to hike on and wasn't 
sure
that I wanted to go off the trail, but then I saw how close it was and
Breatheright persuaded me to go with him. It was amazing! We got there at 
1:20 or
so. There it was. Horses in a corral, a pool heated by hot springs, hot 
spring
showers, little cabins all nestled in the trees. We headed to the main 
building
and a dining area. We walked around awkwardly not knowing what to do. A 
woman
with an accent said, "PCT Hikers?" We said, "Yup." She said, "Go through. 
Eat
as much as you want!" Then a gentleman (Ed) brought us a pitcher of water 
and
asked if we needed anything else. He said, "Welcome to Drakesbaad.
Congratulations on making it half way. There are the showers and pool down 
there, help
yourself! How long are you staying?" Breatheright said "All day and all 
night."
Well, we about giggled ourselves to death and ate like kings and queens. 
Then
I showered and soaked and was on my way, trying to make it another 10 miles
to get to Georgi's the next day. I was on my way by 3:15 feeling refreshed 
and
wonderful. What a wonderful treat and what wonderful people. That was
officially the best magic I ever received on the whole trail! Almost like 
the
Chihuahua Road day! I made it to Soap Lake and camped alone.........

I arrived at Georgi's in Old Station and found out an hour later from 
Twisted
Sister (PCT 05) that Billy the owner of Drakesbaad had called ahead to 
Georgi
to tell her that some girl had skipped out on her bill. I was the only girl
for miles and miles so they assumed it was me. I gasped and started to try 
not
to cry and told them my side of the story, which was that Breatheright and I
were under the assumption that they were going to throw all the food away or
something, because it was the end of lunch and there were no customers 
besides
us. We finished eating and waited for about 15 minutes. There were no staff
members there except for a young bus girl. She was emptying the buffet and I
cleared the table and brought her my plate and glass and waited for her to 
bill us
or give us the check. Nothing. No communication. I thanked her and asked if
we were all set and she said, "Yes, thank you!" We went to the shower, I 
took a
brief swim and dried off and left. I thought it was magic. From the
information I received from other hikers and the entry in the Yogi Guide, 
saying that
Suge received free prime rib, free food, a free shower and free swim in 
2005, I
assumed that it was free. Later that evening, Billy and Ed, the owners,
supposedly asked my friend Breatheright where I went, thinking that I was 
his
partner they thought I was staying the night with him. They told him that I 
skipped
out on my bill and he knew that it was a misunderstanding and PROMPTLY PAID
THEM THE $6 I OWED. Georgi understood my side of the story and understood 
that
it was a misunderstanding and said she would talk to Billy, apologize for me
and clear my name. I was beside myself thinking that my name had been 
slandered
all over the trail. Apparently 25 hikers arrived later that day and Billy
told them all that I had skipped out on my bill and they were going to have 
to
rethink their offerings to PCT hikers. I immediately started to cry again 
when I
heard that. I grew up in a restaurant. My mother and grandfather owned a
restaurant and I practically lived there. I learned to wash dishes first, 
cook,
bus, waitress and bartend. I WOULD NEVER SKIP OUT ON ANY BILL ANYWHERE AND I
WOULD NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING UNPAID EVER EVER EVER. There was a very serious 
lack
of clarity that led to this situation. I was extremely hurt that a number of
hikers later came up to me and told me they had heard some girl skipped out 
on
her bill. I explained the situation to countless people, and even went on 
tape
on Squatch's camera and tried to clear my name. I gave Breatheright the $6 
and
wondered if my reputation was worth $6,000 to me. It is.

I am extremely hurt that a woman I don't know would drag my tired thruhiker
body through the mud without getting the information straight. The internet 
is
a corrupt place that attracts lies, conjecture and leads to nothing but
trouble. The PCT is full of rumors at all times that I have found difficult 
to sift
through. If anyone out there knows me, they would KNOW that I am a refulgent
soul and would NEVER do anything to jeopardize the comfort of any member of 
my
trail family, of which I have been a member since 2001.

Drakesbaad is not closed to hikers. I do not steal. I love and respect 
anyone
who offers me anything. I do not feel entitled to any magic anywhere at any
time. I apologize to Billy and Ed, Georgi, Breatheright, Yogi, the PCT-L, 
the
people of this country and the members of this planet, the PCTA, some woman
named Sue who DOES NOT KNOW ME. I hope that this is the end of it. I have 
walked
1726 miles on the PCT, including 340 miles in the last 10 days to get away
from the people who might think for a second I was a thief. I have cried for
hours over this. What a great way to spend a zero in Ashland. Crying. Thank 
you to
Radar, Weathercarrot, Donna Saufley and She-Ra who KNOW FULL WELL WHAT KIND
OF PERSON I AM. Time for some Shakespeare. Cast your stones.

Yogi, I will be getting your address and sending you a postal money order 
for
$30.