The wind overnight was extremely strong and loud, to the point that even with earplugs in I had trouble sleeping. The wind also meant it was quite cold but I put on my pants socks thermal undershirt and jacket, and was able to sleep okay. I slept in, knowing that I only had a 15 mile day ahead of me instead of a 20.
Much of the day was spent going up and over rolling balds or knobs which are basically mountain tops covered in grass. This led to some really great views, but also the climbs were a hard slog. Towards the end of the day the terrain became extremely rocky, and this made for stress on the knees and occasional twists of the ankle but nothing too serious. As usual I found plenty of wild leeks, and had them with my cheese wraps at lunch and in my rice at dinner.
Around 10:00 I came onto a road where a camper van was parked. My hopes got up – could this be trail magic? Indeed it was. Bucky, one of the hikers who had camped with us the night before, had arranged for his wife to pick him up in their camper, and she provided Rice Krispie squares, cheese peanut butter crackers, clementines and drinks to Tortoise, Burd Detective, Vikung and me. It seems that she’s following him around on his entire hike, as his personal support crew.
The group of six who’d been traveling together, Energizer, Viking, Bird Detective, Lost and Found, and Megamiles, and another, seem to travel individually or in small groups during the day and then at some point they stop and wait for each other. Around 3:00 I came across Energizer and Lost and Found. Energizer was lying on his yellow inflated mattress taking a rest while waiting for the others to catch up. I asked him if he was going to try to make it to Doll Flats where I was headed. He was noncommital but I gather they are not doing big miles and would probably camp up on a knob, just because it was closer (if colder). None of them (except Megamiles, who had gine far ahead) had done a 20 mile day yet. They are certainly enjoying themselves though.
Doll Flats was empty when I arrived at 5pm. Later I noticed a tent ip and went to meet Casa NOBO, and still later Tortoise arrived.
Casa NOBO (NOBO is the term we use for NorthBound) is doing a section hike because he has kids at home and doesn’t have time to take five or six months off. Tortoise is someone I met over a week ago the day we went into Gatlinburg, but hadn’t seen him since. He is heading north into Virginia and then meeting his brother and doing some kind of flip-flop coming down from Maine, I forget the details.
In spite of it being only a 15 mile day I feel pretty tired. Tomorrow I just have five miles to get to the Refuge Hostel for a shower, laundry, takeout dinner, resupply, and a bunk to sleep on. Looking forward to cleaning up after a week straight on the trail, and giving my body a bit of a break.
Mile 377.3 to mile 392.6 = 15.3 miles.
