Once upon a time in a magical land, there lived a peculiar witch named Luna. Luna was not your typical witch. Instead of the usual warts and crooked nose, Luna had a delicate sky blue nose that matched the color of her enchanting eyes. This unique feature made her stand out from the other witches in the land. Luna was known for her kind and gentle nature. She used her magical powers to help people and bring joy to their lives.
About four miles in, still along the ridge, a pair of white-haired hikers appeared up ahead, walking towards me. When I pulled aside to let them pass, they warned me that a rattlesnake was stretched out across the trail about 100 feet ahead. We chatted about rattlesnakes and Arizona for a minute or two and then went our separate ways.
When I reached Jennings Creek Road, I left the AT and headed up VA614 toward the Middle Creek Campground where Kate had secured a campsite for the night. To say that Chad Sell s first graphic novel, The Cardboard Kingdom , co-written as part of a team of ten comics collaborators and starring a group of neighbor kids who bond together one summer over their imagined alter egos, was a massive hit with my kids three years ago would be a gross understatement.
She used her magical powers to help people and bring joy to their lives. Instead of brewing potions to harm others, Luna brewed potions to heal the sick and wounded. She used her spells to bring happiness and prosperity to those who needed it the most.
Day 58: An Angel, a Serpent, an Attack Fawn, a Witch, Caesar, and Blue Blazin’
I woke up feeling off, but not quite sick. I wasn’t hungry, which was weird, and I couldn’t finish my oatmeal. Oatmeal never goes unfinished at my breakfast table. And my stomach still had that bloated about-to-explode feeling. Clearly, the best thing to do was strap on a tight hip belt and go hiking.
Hiking downhill, of course, and only eight miles. Though when I started out, I realized I’d misread the mileage and had thought I only had six. Six, eight, twenty-one, it’s all the same thing. I just wanted to chip something off the distance to Katahdin. Plus, we’d cleaned all the ticks off Gus, and he was ready to hunt down a fresh batch.
The Hike
I couldn’t have asked for a nicer day. The woods smelled great this morning – a hint of pine, but basically just refreshing, clean air. I don’t think I’ve ever noticed it before.
After a short climb out of Bear Wallow Gap, the trail gradually descended to Jennings and Middle Creeks. Perfect for walking, seeing, and seeing what I see.
And thinking. I spent the morning in my head thinking about my adolescence and the trials I put my poor parents through. I have no idea why my brain went there. It’s probably the same answer I gave guy on Facebook who asked how in the world did I think of dividing the AT’s length by Pi to come up with the 700-mile Pi(e) Challenge. I answered him, “Dude, I’ve been hiking alone for 58 days. There’s nothing I haven’t thought about.”
Providence or Serendipity?
About four miles in, still along the ridge, a pair of white-haired hikers appeared up ahead, walking towards me. When I pulled aside to let them pass, they warned me that a rattlesnake was stretched out across the trail about 100 feet ahead. We chatted about rattlesnakes and Arizona for a minute or two and then went our separate ways.
After they hiked on, I thought how fortunate to have met them just then, as I had been distracted and inattentive all morning. I could have easily stepped right on the snake without noticing.
I walked up slowly and found a three- to four-foot rattler, with his head in a bush and his tail halfway across the trail. Given his girth, he’d just eaten something. Thinking he’d be fat and happy, I tried to sneak by, but he was in no mood to share the trail. He coiled up, stuck his buzzer straight up, and put his head in the attack position. Gus and I backed up and found an alternate route through the brush.
If the Snake Doesn’t Get You, the Fawn Will
After passing Mr. Buzzworm, I pulled out my camera to record a video about him. When I did, I saw a doe and fawn standing in the trail about 150 feet ahead. I switched to camera mode and tried to zoom in, expecting them to bound off before I could focus. Instead, they walked right toward us.
Great, I thought, I survived the rattlesnake but am going to be killed by a rabid fawn. Actually, I’m pretty sure the doe saw Gus and assumed I had a little brown fawn of my own. She was bringing hers over for a play date. When they got to within 15 feet, Gus decided a play date would be just fine and walked over to meet them. Frankly, he was so quiet, I’d forgotten he was behind me and off leash.
Once Gus came out from behind me, the doe realized that my fawn was too ugly to play with hers and jumped to the left. The fawn jumped right. Gus spun in place trying to keep both of them in front of him. And then it got a little chaotic. The fawn ran off and doe started running circles around Gus, darting back and forth across the trail, all while doing this weird hacking cough thing. For his part, Gus never barked or chased either of them, and he came right back when I called him.
As Gus came back, the doe ran around behind me, passing a few feet away and cough/hacked her way through the underbrush over the ridge where the fawn had gone. Bizarre. I’d never seen anything like it.
Did Anyone Else See All That?
Five minutes later I saw a backpacker ahead of me. She was all bundled up like it was cold out. Her hood was up, covering her face, and she wore gloves and long pants. I greeted her, but she was grumpy and sullen. I was still pumped with adrenaline, so I asked if she saw the rattlesnake.
“Snake?” she said. Now she was interested. The hood came off to reveal raven-black hair. And was that a wart on her hooked nose? “Where?” she asked eagerly.
“Well,” I said, “Did you pass an older couple a few minutes ago on the ridge?” She gave me a weird look and said she hadn’t seen anyone all day. What? How could you not see two friendly people walk right past you? She shrugged and suddenly lost interest.
The Only Rational Explanation
Then it dawned on me. Clearly, the older couple were guardian angels sent to warn me of impending danger in the form of an evil serpent. Obviously, the grumpy woman was a snake-loving witch unable to see angels. Or she had left the snake on the trail to get me, possibly her revenge for noticing the cryptids along Dismal Creek last week.
I’m not sure how the fawn fits into all that. Maybe it’s the exception that proves the rule, or maybe it was an evil fawn infected with deer ticks. Or more likely, that I should have stayed in bed another day.
What About Caesar?
I did promise a Caesar, didn’t I? Eight miles counts as a nero, right? And Nero was one of the … Never mind, blame it on the fever.
Blue Blazin’
When I reached Jennings Creek Road, I left the AT and headed up VA614 toward the Middle Creek Campground where Kate had secured a campsite for the night. That’s right, I blue blazed* 1.5 miles. In the morning, I’ll blue blaze right out again, connecting back up with the AT a few miles north.
No apologies, no rationale, no guilt. I’m hiking my own hike, which we now know has been blessed by angels.
Daily Stats:
- Start: Bearwallow Gap (Mile 751.9)
- End: Middle Creek Campground (Mile 760.0)
- Weather: Slightly overcast, cool.
- Earworm: Witchy Woman (Eagles)
- Meditation: Mt. 6:34
- Plant of the Day: Jersey Tea
- Best Thing: Fawn
- Worst Thing: Rattlesnake
*Blue blazing is leaving the main trail for an alternative or side trail, and is frowned on by stuffy, so-called “purists.”
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Despite her good intentions, Luna faced criticism from the other witches in the land. They believed that her methods were unconventional and didn't align with traditional witchcraft. They mocked her for her sky blue nose, calling her names and ostracizing her from their witchy gatherings. But Luna remained undeterred. She knew that her powers were meant to be used for good, and no amount of ridicule could change that. She continued to spread kindness and love wherever she went, even if it meant standing alone. One day, a terrible curse fell upon the enchanted land. The skies turned dark, and the once thriving forests withered away. The people were filled with despair and didn't know how to bring back the light. Word of Luna's extraordinary powers and her sky blue nose reached the ears of the desperate villagers. They begged her to use her magic to save their land. With a heart full of compassion, Luna accepted the challenge. She began to brew a powerful potion, gathering ingredients from far and wide. With her cauldron bubbling, she recited ancient incantations and poured all of her energy into the spell. The skies started rumbling, and a ray of light broke through the darkness. The curse was lifted, and the land was restored to its former beauty. The people celebrated Luna as a hero, recognizing her as the savior of their land. The other witches, who had once ridiculed her, were in awe of her abilities. They realized that the power of magic lay not in tradition and conformity, but in the kindness and intentions of the witch wielding it. From that day forward, Luna's sky blue nose became a symbol of hope and love. The people of the enchanted land wore blue noses and honored Luna's legacy by practicing magic for the greater good. In the end, Luna's uniqueness and unwavering determination proved that being different is a strength, not a weakness. Her story serves as a reminder that true magic lies in the power to bring joy, heal wounds, and make the world a better place..
Reviews for "The Sky Blue Nosed Witch: Fear or Fascination?"
1. John - 2 stars - I really did not enjoy "The sky blue nosed witch". The story was very confusing and the characters were not well-developed. I couldn't connect with any of them and I found myself constantly questioning their actions and motives. The writing style felt disjointed and it was difficult for me to stay engaged throughout the book. Overall, I was disappointed with this read and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Emma - 1 star - I found "The sky blue nosed witch" to be incredibly boring. The plot was dull and predictable, and the pacing was very slow. I struggled to finish the book as there were no exciting or memorable moments that stood out. The dialogue also felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult for me to invest in the story or the characters. I was expecting much more from this book, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me.
3. David - 2 stars - I was not impressed with "The sky blue nosed witch". The writing was filled with clichés and the story lacked originality. It felt like I had read this same plot and these same characters in countless other books before. The narrative was also quite predictable, leaving me uninterested in the outcome. I was hoping for a unique and captivating reading experience, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver.
4. Sarah - 3 stars - While "The sky blue nosed witch" had its moments, it failed to fully capture my attention. The concept and premise were intriguing, but the execution fell short. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear. I felt detached from the story and struggled to connect with any of the characters. Overall, I found this book to be mediocre at best.