Date: 2018-11-29
From: Wayah Bald

To: NOC
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

It was a somber day today. I know that WE had posted on Facebook that she was dedicating today's hike to her mom. It brought tears to my eyes but at the same time I felt honored to accompany her. After Lee made us pancakes she drove us up the long mountain road to the top of Wayah Bald and we saw the most spectacular sunrise I think I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. It was certainly moving and very fitting for today's hike. What a way to start the day! The temperature at the top of the bald was 30 degrees when we got out of the car. There are restrooms in the parking area and thus we took advantage of those before setting off northbound toward a stone monument in memory of John Bernard Byrne. The panoramic mountain views from the bald and even more so from the monument made me want to stay here much longer just looking at God's creation. We took photos of each other and growing cold realized that we needed to get moving. I hiked most of the day in front of WE at a comfortable 2 mile per hour pace. WE shared stories about her Mom when I asked questions about her and they were happy, fun memories for WE. The trail was really nice and we stopped at a shelter for hot chocolate and a snack. When we reached Telleco Gap we sat on a wooden retaining wall by the side of the street and I ate my sandwich as quickly as I could so that we wouldn't become chilled and also because it had started raining. While I was eating Wildlife appeared hiking southbound and she was only carrying one trekking Pole. She shared with us that yesterday after we saw her she took a spill injuring her ankle and breaking one of her poles. She ended up staying at NOC instead of hiking the additional 4 miles to a shelter but her foot was feeling better and her hiking pole parts were being shipped to Hiawassee. WE shared the news of her Mom's passing. We hiked out in our own direction, again with me in front and WE trailing behind. I stopped a few times to give her a chance to catch up a bit, wanting to make sure that she was okay and that I didn't get too far in front of her. It was raining heavier now, of course. Cold rain and I had my full rain gear on now. I saw a woman approaching southbound on the trail with a white dog that looked like a boxer. We stopped and chatted and I noticed that she had a name tag on that read Dr Mary and it had a cross on it. We were still talking when WE arrived and noting the name tag asked Dr Mary if she was a trail chaplain. Indeed she was and she was headed to the next shelter for the night with her dog Daisy. I asked WE if I could share with Dr Mary and she consented and I shared that WE had lost her mother yesterday. We prayed together right there on trail and it was an emotional moment for us all. The rest of the story is that of the cat WE's Mom was carrying yesterday on the plane, sharing the same name as Dr Mary's dog Daisy. I believe this was not a chance meeting or coincidence. I think WE cried the remaining 3+ miles to the car. The hike today was cathartic. It's also our last hike together until WE does NH next summer and hopefully I'll get to hike a section with her. Tomorrow I'll hike the other side of Wayah Bald headed south if the weather permits and if not then they will drop me off in Franklin NC. Down at the NOC I greeted Lee and we waited for WE to arrive, loaded into the car and headed back to the camper. I got extra dog cuddling with both Romeo and Speck. I'll miss them both. After dinner we retired and watched TV on our phones. I watched an episode of the First 48 before dozing off with a warm pup next to me.