Walking In Circles

6.5 Miles to Log Cabin Drive

As I was headed out, some kind of bookworm came rushing by in a v-neck sweater and glasses.  He was making a bee-line for shelter, and he looked at me incredulously: "Don't you see what's coming?!"

Looking north before my walk, I only saw blue skies.  I checked the weather report, noted the thunderstorms moving in, and packed up my neon orange poncho on the outer straps of my hip bag.  Now clouds were flying across the sky and flying leaves were hitting my face.  A few isolated rain drops landed on me.

"Um..."  "I'm prepared," I called after him.

6.5 Miles to Springs Mountain Shelter

It has stopped raining.  Instead there extremely high humidity that makes everything foggy and spooky.  And the clothes get sticky and uncomfortable, despite the cool air.  I came across my neighbor walking her three huge dogs and she commented on the spookiness of this street.  I think she's probably safe, running with the pack! ;-)

Here's some beautiful pictures of this section of the trail.

6.5 Miles to Campsite at 2,490 ft.

There's no curtsy name for the place just "campsite."   It's a mile short of where the trail crosses US25 and US40 (a location that the guidebook helpfully labels "R" for "road" just in case the hiker is unclear on the concept).  Well, no-name campsite suits my mood about right.

13.1 Miles to Hot Springs, NC

Oh, what a drag- the fourth day in a row of rain and it is expected to continue for several more days.  Seriously approaching torture; I can barely haul myself through the day.  I think a lot on these walks- I have several entire blog posts for Cactus Juice written in my head, but by the time I'm done with dinner and writing this post there is nothing else possible but sleep.  Maybe when I see sunshine again.

Hot Springs embraces their role as an Appalachian Trail town.  It might cheer up a rain-weary hiker.

6.5 Miles to Lemon Gap, NC and By the Numbers

Rain all the way to Lemon Gap.  Third day of nonstop rain.  Shoes piled by the front door.  Walking feels like it takes twice as long.  I just want some sunshine here in Lemon Gap!!

Coffee count:
Starbucks: 2
Caribou: 4

Food count:
Sports Beans: 33
Slim Jims: 3
Packages Beef Jerky: 1
Lifesaver Gummies: 1

Shoe count: 3
Sticks Body Glide: 1

Miles completed/remaining: 257.4/1,918.8
Average number of miles/day remaining: 6.59

6.5 Miles to Max Patch Road

Oh, the poncho is really starting to smell!  Yesterday's walking was all in the rain, rain continued today, and is expected for two more days.  I look forward to a sunny day where I can scrub the poncho and leave it out to dry.

Max Patch Mountain was homesteaded right on the top and the trees cleared for livestock.  Now the US Forestry Service keeps it cleared for the sake of historical continuity.

13.1 Miles Outta This Place

On Wednesday, when I didn't walk, a pedestrian was killed a few "spokes" (Raleigh is a belt-lines and spokes city) up from the spoke that I walk on.  The sidewalk was closed and he was hit walking in the street.  Our city requires sidewalks (sidewalks are owned by the property owner, not the city), but does not have any laws limiting the amount of time they can be closed.  Right now I walk past two areas of construction: one has always kept the sidewalks open, the other fenced off the sidewalks more than a week before construction began (guess who hopped the fence).

Today, the other direction, a child was hit by a car.  The spot is considered dangerous for school children, although all cars must stop for buses so the driver had to be totally fruitloops.

This is the way they are though. On my morning walk I glared at a guy as he plowed through my crosswalk on a red light and he looked genuinely confused as to what the problem might be.  There is a lot going on, but mainly it seems to be a class thing.  In the west, if you aren't a walker/runner, your boss may well be.  In Raleigh, the perception is only your maid uses the sidewalk.  If I carry a Starbucks cup in my hand, all this nonsense instantly stops.

But it's all good because I'm not in North Carolina anymore!  I'm in Tennessee!!

I walked out of the national park, crossed I-40, and ended up at Snowbird Mountain right on the state border.

6.5 Miles to the Middle of Nowhere, Great Smoky Mountains

I'm only a few miles from getting out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and it's 600 bears (!) and into Tennessee.

Yesterday morning I took a break because of a little fasciitis and large muscle fatigue, and then I got sick and couldn't walk last night or this morning.  Convenient of the problems to all mesh together like that and take as little time off walking as possible.

Tomorrow in Tennessee!

13.1 Miles to Snake Den Ridge Trail

Snake Den Ridge Trail is my new favorite place name since Chunky Girl Trail.

6.5 Miles to Porters Gap and The Sawteeth

The Sawteeth are a series of gorgeous mountain cliffs.  I meant for it to be a 13.1 mile day, but daylight savings time and a lot of miles last week have whooped me.