Date: 2010-04-19
From: Dennis Cove Rd/Kincora Hostel

To: Campsite on Watauga Lake
Miles today: 9.7

Today was amazingly relaxed! I took experiences as they came and lived with the flow of the trail.As I've said, part of the reason I was hiking long days to Kincora.....actually, let's stop here for a moment. I don't think I wrote enough about how great Kincora is. The base reason for all of this is that Bob Peoples is a wonderful man! He's kind, generous, and basically lives his life to give back to the trail. He provides a great place to stay with bunks, kitchen, cozy living room/hiker hangout, laundry, shower, etc. This, plus a shuttle into town for dinner and supplies, was all provided for a suggested donation of $4. Seriously?!? Thank you SO much, Bob!!!Okay, back on track....so, I was hiking long days basically to catch up with some guys I really clicked with in Southern NC. I caught up with them, and we all had a happy reunion. They all planned to hike 17 to a shelter today and then some were going to do 33 straight into Damascus (on easy terrain, but still - 33!), while some planned 23 and then 10. As of last night, I thought I'd probably do the 17, 23, 10 plan, or maybe split the last 33 into two of more similar length. When I woke up this morning, I was feeling lazy and like I was still recovering from my several long days. I realized that hiking faster with the guys would mean both pushing myself farther and faster than feels good right now, and losing Dirt Stew and Dormourse, also very dear friends. I immediately felt joy spread through me as I decided to slow down, enjoy the ride, and hike four days instead of three into Damascus. Yay! I was again sad to see the guys go (actually, all but Beefstick, who is zeroing with a nasty foot infection), but thrilled with the decision I have made. So I lazed around in the morning and didn't leave until around noon. I hiked on beautiful trail by the waterfall and creek in Laurel Fork Gorge, then up a long climb to Pond Flats. On the way down the other side, I ran into three hikers with day packs drinking Bud Light on the side of the trail. They said, "Are you a thru-hiker?" "Yup." "So are we, but we're just really lazy ones. You want a beer?" I proceeded to sit down and have lunch, two beers, and awesome conversation with Fuzzy, Ready, and Kit. They were a blast, and I look forward to seeing them again.I hiked on down to the road, just 1.8 miles before the shelter. Braids and four other guys were standing there trying to hitch into Hampton. Braids said she was just going in for dinner and then hiking to the shelter and my interest was immediately up. As I was thinking about it, a truck pulled up and offered us a ride, so I hopped on in. Braids and I had a fantastic dinner at Pizza Plus (AYCE!). This is the first time we've really had a chance to sit and chat, and we totally clicked! A very sweet lady we met at the restaurant offered us a ride back to the trail. We hiked off slowly and with very full bellies towards the shelter. We made it just under a mile when we saw Dirt Stew and Dormouse setting up their tent near the trail. We quickly both decided to camp with them and now have a lovely little campsite with good friends. What a wonderful day!!!One other little note - Bob talked to me yesterday about Trail Days and the details of the Hard Core trail crew that happens on Sunday and Monday after T.D. It sounds wonderful and I'm 90% sure now that I'm going to Trail Days! Woohoo!!!Postscript, April 19, 2011: "Totally clicked." Yup, I think that pretty well sums it up. It is such a joy to be able to relive our unfolding relationship through my journals.