Date: 2011-03-19
From: Beech Gap

To: Big Spring Shelter, NC
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Two weeks today. Only 23 to go. Tomorrow almost right away will be 100 miles, although I¢ve hiked a bit over that figuring in the approach trail. I forgot to mention yesterday that Ron and Currahee were in camp when I got there, which was a nice surprise.I managed to get up slightly earlier today and was on trail by 10:15. Still not as early as I¢d like. The trail was very easy today and I knew I was coming here, so no real hurry.I saw a ton of weekend hikers today. The first was a section hiker with a dog of his own and also a lost hound dog. It had this crazy radio transmitter collar, but it was dead [ed. note: the collar, I hope]. He had tags, so I tried to call, but had no signal. Here¢s something wonderful. The guy told me he¢d passed someone earlier who¢d stayed at Standing Indian shelter and got bitten by a rat.I had a very leisurely lunch at Betty Creek Gap. I came up with something really good, too: split pea soup with bacon bits. I also started a small fire with my stove, which has never happened before. The bad news is that my feet killed again. I tried to take it super easy and rest a bunch, but no dice. Several people have recommended those Superfeet inserts (and ibuprofen), so I¢m probably going to bail at Franklin tomorrow. It¢s nine miles from here, so that also most likely means staying the night which I really didn¢t want to do.Anyway, the day finished going up Albert Mountain, which was comically steep. Just before, a young couple passed me and I caught up at the top, where there¢s a really cool fire tower. They¢re Radio Flyer and Riding Hood (Team Red) and lived the last year in DC. They¢ve even ridden at Lake Needwood.The map seemed way off, in my favor for once, because the shelter was right after. There were Boy Scouts or something up top, then Ron and Currahee again, then Team Red and Swift at the shelter. Swift was happy to see me and said he heard from Rambler yesterday that I was right behind. He said he¢d be expecting more wine after Franklin.A bit later we were joined by two lady section hikers I¢d seen going south at Mooney Gap, their dog, Cricket, and a thru-hiker called No Cello. Everyone ate together, which was nice. My bottle of Texas Pete saw a lot of action. Swift took off for the next gap and the rest of us sat around talking a while. The dog, Cricket, came over to me and kept grumbling when I¢d stop petting her. It would be nice to have a dog out here. Dinner was another of those Enertia hiking meals, Veggie Pizza Pasta. I¢m not sure where the pizza is, but it¢s good. It¢s also nice to cook in the bag. No dishes. I¢m going to start cooking my cous cous like that. I think this is the first shelter I¢ve stayed at since Blue Mountain. No Cello is a funny guy and a little nutty. He, Ron, and Currahee are going into Franklin, so there will be some friendly faces around. I know Bel Air Dave is headed there, too. I¢m pretty sure he¢s right behind me, so hopefully I¢ll see him, too. I really hope insoles help me out. I hate having something like this wrong with me. I¢m not remotely tired at the end of the day, but the pain in my feet is terrible.   [ed. note: ]