Date: 2003-08-14
From: Apple House Shelter

To: Dennis Cove, Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 24.0

Thursday August 14 I have 24 miles ahead of me today in order to reach the renowned Kincora Hostel so I am on the trail by 7:05 AM. A reroute to the trail has added about 3 miles to my original plan of 21 miles. Steve and Amanda hardly move as I get ready. Soon after I cross highway #19E, there¢s some Hefty bags of trash that have been tossed on the trail. Maybe the AT is not welcome by everyone around here. Well there is a welcoming committee as I soon notice a lot of horse poop on the trail and then a small herd of horses stand astride the trail ahead. They don¢t move but turn and smile and greet me and let me pass amidst them. Soon they are letting me pet them and following me. What a nice Grizzly Adams feeling. The trail passes alongside the Elk River but unfortunately there are too many mosquitoes for me to stop and take a break and enjoy it. The trail then begins a pretty uneventful, not-too-difficult section as I make my way to Dennis Cove and the Kincora Hostel. At Walnut Mt. Road I take a pee stop and gaze at the forest while relieving myself. Near the end of the wizz I look down at the last spurt and swear aloud as I think it was a dark red color. Was that blood? I excitedly try for another dribble. No luck. Nary a drop can I push out. ¢God what the hell was that¢, I think. I feel fine but that scares the crap outta me but not any more pee. After a few minutes consternation, I figure there is only one thing to do. And that¢s to keep on walking and refill the bladder by drinking a lot of water so I can check again soon. A half hour later after much worrying, I succeed and yep it¢s red. Bladder or kidney infection? I think about everything I have eaten and drank and then conclude that maybe it¢s from the water purification pills I have been using for the past week. I am pretty preoccupied while hiking for the next couple of hours. I take a final break after 17 miles at Moreland Gap Shelter still worrying about the red pee. Then I make the final, mostly downhill approach to Dennis Cove Rd. There¢s a small sign that directs me .2 of a mile to the Kincora Shelter. It¢s about 5:30 PM when I arrive and Pat Peoples warmly welcomes me and says go make yourself at home in the hostel. I walk around and find Steve from Iowa on the porch. His good sense took over and they had Bob, the owner of Kincora come and get them near the Apple Mt. Shelter. After a shower Steve drives me into town and we stop at another all you can eat pizza parlor buffet. He and I have a long relaxing chat. Later at the shelter, Bob and Pat join 4-5 of us on the porch for some lively conversation. They love living in the forest. Their house is adjoined to the hostel that they built. Cost per night for staying is a donation of $4, which I¢m sure doesn¢t cover their cost. Bob also shuttles hikers into town and the grocery for free. I had to hide $10 in his vehicle as he refused the offer when I tried to pay him. They are just two more good people on the Appalachian Trail. I tell him of my plan to hike to Vandeventer Shelter the next day. He suggests that he shuttle me to Wautauga Lake in the morning and that I hike 8 miles back to the hostel, relax and have a good lunch and then he will take me back to Wautauga Lake and I can head to Vandeventer from there. Sounds like a good plan. I hit the bunk at about 10PM and sleep almost as well as I have been sleeping in the shelters.SUMMARY AUGUST 14 APPLE HOUSE SHELTER TO DENNIS COVE, KINCORA HOSTEL, 24 MILES, CUMULATIVE 144 MILES.