Date: 2008-02-05
From: Flint Mtn Shelter, NC

To: Sams Gap, TN
Miles today: 11.2

I woke up hungry this morning at 5:10am! :-)I brewed 24.79 ounces of Starbucks, and then had chicken salad with crackers, dried pineapple, nuts, 3 waffles with 3 packs of jelly and some beef jerky.I ate all that, and then laid down for another 15 minutes before I started packing up my stuff at 6:30am.This is the mildest morning I've had since Jan 1st....its 50 degrees now. That's what the temperature was yesterday when I got here in the rain.I was all packed and walking at 7:05am. I stopped about 50 yards north on the Trail and filled up a water bottle from a nice little stream, then walked on.The rain is gone for now and the fog that was up here on the mountaintops is now down below in the valleys.I got data service about 25 minutes into my walk, so I sent in my journal and pictures from yesterday.I passed by Devil Fork Gap Rd about 2 1/2 miles later, then up and down a small hill and crossed Boone Cove Rd.I started about a 1,600 ft climb from there heading up to Frozen Knob.I passed by a couple grave markers in the woods. One was for Dorothy Hensley who lived from May 2nd, 1865 to April 30, 1965....she missed turning 100 years old by just 2 days. The other was for Joe Riddel who lived from May, 1877 to July, 1967.There were also remains of an old cabin not far from there.It seemed like I climbed and climbed this morning. It was a nice walk because a stream came down the mountain near the Trail and had a few waterfalls.I got near the top and found a small spring. I stopped and drank some nice cool water and filled up a water bottle.I could look off to my left once I got to the top of Frozen Knob and see the highway that goes up to Sams Gap.That's my destination today because I called Miss Janet last night and she is picking me up there today and taking me into Erwin.I'm taking another zero tomorrow....but not because it's going to rain all day. I'm just giving Caveman a chance to get in front of me, so he can knock down the spider webs for a while. Ha!! ;-)I kept walking....up lots of hills and down lots of hills. I passed by Big Flat, then Rice Gap.I kept thinking I should be getting to the sidetrail to Hogback Ridge Shelter, but was almost 40 minutes off.I didn't stop because I didn't want Miss Janet to have to wait on me at Sams Gap.I continued on and I got to High Rocks about three small hills later.I only had a little less than 2 miles to go after that.I started hearing big trucks, and then I-26 came into view.I walked over to the parking area and emptied my garbage in the cans and ate a quick snack.Miss Janet showed up 10 minutes later....great timing! :-)I was going to take her out to lunch, but her van stopped working right near the Holiday Inn Express.I ended up checking in there and after she got a jump, she drove to an auto shop to see what was wrong.We made plans for dinner though! :-)Thanks for picking me up at Sams Gap Miss Janet.....it's always great to see you! :-)My dinner date showed up right on time!I wanted to say; pick me up at 8 and don't be late.....but I knew I'd be hungry waaaay before 8, so Miss Janet picked me up at 6. :-)We headed to Johnson City and found an Outback Steakhouse for dinner.I think we were in there for over 2 hours catching up on everything in the world and the hiking community.Thanks again Miss Janet!! I had a fantastic evening.Another great day on the Appalachian Trail! :-)