Date: 2013-05-30
From: Middle Creek Campground

To: Middle Creek Campground
Miles today: 15.4

Day Eighty Three -(15.4) Middle Creek CampgroundI set up camp last night next to a stream and it was perfect except the sound of water kept me up all night. I got up at 6:30 and got Melkie's pack ready for a slack pack today. We didn't need to pack up our things because we would be staying here tonight as well. It felt strange to leave my hammock set up with my pack hanging nearby but it is better than carrying it all day. Our shuttle left at 7:30 and took half an hour to arrive at Thunder Ridge Overlook. We had to guess the correct path to get to the trail but it all worked out and soon we were hiking away. We hiked up to the top and came to an FAA tower. Of course it had several no trespassing signs and federal property signs on it but the gate was open and there was a car parked inside. Hobo warned me that I could get deported but I walked right in and shouted hello into the open door of the building. Soon Mike came out and started telling us about the place. I had really been hoping for a tour of the place but he gave us some history and that is cool. It is an old radar site (still in use) and there use to be an old Air Force site with military quarters but those buildings are long gone. We sat and had a snack break by the tower and then continued on our journey. It is so much fun hiking south and getting to see everyone who is hiking around you. Believe it or not I met another Canadian, she grew up In Barrie, Ontario (45 minutes from where I live). Her name is Canadian Bacon (love it)!We also met Jack and Sarah out geocaching on their honeymoon (they got married on Saturday). Hobo shared some of his gummy lifesavers with them to celebrate. We took silly pictures when we got the the guillotine (it's a narrow boulder section that has a big rock that looks like it will fall on you that you have to pass under) and stopped for lunch on Black Rock overlook. It was beautiful but very hot out in the sun. After lunch we slowed down even more and took several breaks along the way. In front of one of the shelters we passed we saw the section hikers again (Faucet, Rapunzel and Weight Watcher), I think we were there for about an hour talking and laughing with them. We had taken it so easy that we needed to start picking up the pace. I think we stopped one more time for water before arriving at BryantRidge Shelter. This shelter was amazing! It was all tongue and groove (no nails) and had a modern design with several levels and an awesome deck. There were even plexiglass skylights. It would have been a cool place to stay. Just Bob a section hiker was there and while we took a break a really cool guy from Israel (I can't remember his name) stopped by and had us laughing. He is on the hunt for the section hiker from Israel who is half a day ahead. We realized we couldn't stall much longer and left the shelter behind. We had one more big climb before out descent to civilization again. At the top we celebrated again with gummy lifesavers and Hobo made a quick call the Sue the owner of the campground where we are staying and arranged a ride from the trail in thirty minutes. We had half an hour to get down off the mountain so we hurried as fast as we could, I had several near falls but we did it! And just as we came off the mountain Sue pulled up. Perfect timing! Even though the camp store was closed she offered to make us dinner and had even bought a real bone for Melkie today. Thank you Sue for going above and beyond for a bunch of smelly hikers! We ate in the air conditioned games room and then started to head back to the campsite. The two Sparky's, Orange Peel and Pathfinder were sitting at a picnic table playing cards and we got sidetracked talking to them. By the time I made to the campsite, showered and cleaned up it was already dark. I started a fire to use up the firewood from last night and now I am sitting by the fire finishing my journal for the night. Good night world!Confessions of a thruhiker:"I am proud of my stink! I want my family to smell this!" This was said days before his family was to visit when discussing whether to do laundry or not.Trouble"You cannot lay down and bask in your success when you reach the top of that mountain, because there is another one beyond, and it might be higher and more rugged. And that's okay. As much as we enjoy reaching that mountaintop, the deeper satisfaction lies in the long, arduous journey itself." George Steffanos