The trail has been a whole different animal in this heat.
Last 5 days have involved waking up early, hiking until around 1, taking a siesta at a shelter to beat the heat, and moving on from 4-7.
On the 25th Blink and I came to a road crossing in time for some "trail magic" from former thru-hikers Fal and Hercules. They invited all of us into their home and made belgian waffles, stew, and had a menu of deserts and drinks. Played frisbee in the yard, had a nice hammock nap and moved on back up the mountain. That night at the shelter the black flies were so bad Dustin Blessed and I decided to keep walking and made it to Big Butt (yes) Mountain - on the way we ran into an enormous bob cat. Caught a full rainbow that ended in the valley just next to us, a hot pink sunset, and settled in to sleep on the Big Butt (pftt).
The following day I managed to tear my heels open again and have been moving pretty slow ever since. As a result I had to park it that night after 23 miles on the side of a bald. My first night ever camping alone. Every sound was a crazed hill billy or tree falling on top of me. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep. Today I learned that some other hikers had even seen a black bear near that sight several hours before so I'm glad I hung my food up and got rid of all those salmon and berries I had been carting around.
Next morning I packed up as quick as I could and about to put my pack on when I got a killer NOSE BLEED. Middle school style. Great. So trudging up Big Bald Mt. limping on my heels with a tissue stuffed up my nose. Generally just lookin' real good.
Today we made it into Erwin, TN and immediated jumped in the river for "shower and laundry." The gang I've started traveling with is wonderful and I hope to get some pictures up today or next week...
The mountains are green and gorgeous, lots of purple lilies and dogwoods blooming everywhere. Though apparently we have at least 10 days of on and off rains to look forward to. I hope that my feel can hold out until new shoes in Damascus (120 miles).
Miss you all! Thanks for reading - Let me know how you're doing! xxoo
*Just tried and computer won't let me post pictures. I'll try from Kincora in a few days.
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I always knew you were a hippie. :) I miss you, Le Brooke. Peeeeeeeeeooooooooo!
ReplyDeleteI can just picture you walking around with a tissue in your nose. Brookes a mess! yeah! I really hope you get those bobcat/rainbow/leprechaun magical pictures up.
ReplyDeleteI hope you ate those salmon and berries and didn't just get rid of them. Good protein and vitamins there. And yes, PICTURES.
ReplyDeleteBrook.... you are a wampus cat and they can beat anything :) I miss you xoxoxo <3
ReplyDeleteHaha you. are. a. mess.
ReplyDeleteHey Brooke!!
ReplyDeleteI figured out how to join, finally. I hate nose bleeds. MIddle school style, haha.
I found out my cousins' trail name: Hillraiser. So look out for Nosehose and Hillraiser. Also, they ran into some wild ponies somewhere near Damascus. Keep your eyes peeled. Good luck and stay safe!!!
-Dansker
ps. here's their blog: http://wearegoingonawalk.blogspot.com/
Where will you be on your birthday. I want to send a card.
ReplyDeleteYOD