Fontana Dam

Yesterday I got in to Fontana. I started hiking at 6:50 to bust out a 21 mile day by 5 so i could get to the post office before it closed. After about 15 minutes of hiking it started raining, my achilles tendon started hurting real bad ( like a knife was stuck in it), and the wend blew up. There were several times I had to just laugh at myself- limping up the hill in the pouring rain, shoulders turned sideways to keep the rain from blowing in. I mean who does that to themselves? And a better question, who actually enjoys that!? And I realized i was having a blast so I quit wondering and started watching where i was stepping. It was sooo slick! I almost slipped and split my skull a couple of times on the slick roots and rocks. A couple of times it was real close.

I stopped to get some more water and for a short snack break along the way, and actually finished by 3! Well the shuttle to town didn't get to the marina till 3:30 and i found out from the shuttle driver that the PO closes at 3 in Fontana... Talk about frustrated! I found out that Boundless and Sly had gotten turned around and Boundless had decided to stay at the next shelter. Sly had decided to get a room in town so I joined him for a relaxing evening of ice and ipsom salt foot baths. It was awesome.

I'm going to do a short day today, try and get my achilles feeling better. I am in good spirits and the forecast looks promising. Great day to enter the Smokies!

Franklin

I made it to Franklin, NC today with a bit of rain from 6:30 till 8:30 or so. Had some trail magic at the end of the Winding Staircase Gap. This older couple hooked me up with some hot chocolate and a couple of cookies. It was real nice. Got a ride in to Franklin, showered, washed my clothes in the shower (for the lack of laundry facilities) and went to eat at Mi Casa, just across the street. It was pretty good. It was nice to have something spicy again.

Tonight we say "bye" to Bill, or Juma. He's a 64 year old gentleman that is sectioning the AT hoping to finish in the next couple of years. He's a real nice fella and will go as far as us young bucks do even if it does take him a bit longer to do it. He is always the first one out of camp so he can get ahead then lets us pass as soon as he hears us behind him. Daks is skipping the next 20 miles because he has already done it. Me and Boundless are hoping to catch up to him in the next few days. We have been pulling some long days, a 17, then a 14. The 17 just about killed me- my left quad was in rough shape. I hydrated well, slept a lot, took some IBU Profin, and woke up feeling golden. I also found some acorns and dogfood in my shoe... I blame it on the squirrels. We then pumped out the 14 miles by 12:30. So we spent the rest of the day BSing and eating. It was glorious. Then last night the mice were out and about, trying to find what food they could. They were loud little buggers. Kept waking me up. I will sleep well tonight!

Assuming the tornadoes decide to pass on, Boundless, Freeman, Red Bear Spider Monkey, and I will probably pump out a 16 miler tomorrow and 12 the day after that. We are well on our way to getting our "trail legs". I can't wait!

A walk in the Park

Well its been an awesome first leg of my journey! My Dad spent the first few days with me making sure I got settled in on the trail. Well, as settled as is possible... I started on friday and hiked Springer Mountain then a bit further. It was sooo hot the first few days, it was tough to keep hydrated. I've got in with a good crew. We have been pulling 10-15 mile days on some pretty rough terrain. I have seen some beautiful vistas, waterfalls, and flowers. Pictures of those will have to wait till i get my cord to put them on the computer.

The first 15 mile day we did over Blood Mountain because the bear activity around there has been way to regular. The berries aren't out yet so they live off of hikers' food bags... nicely wrapped in a bag hanging in the tree for them. My crew and I got to the hostel after a big crew had got there so there was only one bed left. Megan's knee was going out so we let her have it and camped at the next campground. Aaron hung his food instead of running it in to the hostel like the rest of us. Bingo, the bear on the north side of Blood Mtn. made off with $40 worth of his food. I heard him come through camp, but he wasn't too interested in people.

I hooked up with Boundless for the last couple of days and boy is he fast! He likes to get down the trail then relax once he makes camp. We are planning on running with each other the next few days.

Today I picked up my first food drop. My mom is mailing me packages with food in it to different places. I go pick it up then get on down the trail. I am planning on staying at the Blueberry Patch Hostle in Hiawasee, GA tonight then hitting the trail early tomorrow. With a relatively short day we should be done with the trail in GA. That's much faster than I was planning on going.

Yesterday was the toughest day so far. My food supplies were running low, i ran out of water, we pulled a second 15 miler, the rain was blowing sideways, the temp dropped pretty fast, we hit the steepest mountain we've climbed so far (Trey Mountain), we didn't know if there would be room in the shelter, the fog rolled in on us to where we could hardly see the white blaze marking the trail, etc etc. It was awesome! Got to the shelter, got water, cooked up some potatoes for dinner, changed into dry clothes, and climbed into my sleeping bag. Before long, I was "right as rain" as they say...

So over all, its been tough (only 2 minor blisters and one mean hot spot so far), but quite enjoyable. I've met some real cool people that have helped me and I've been able to help out some of them. Its been a good time. Life is good.