Date: 2013-05-28
From: Bearwallow Gap

To: Jennings Creek Campsite
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a planned short day in anticipation of slack packing tomorrow over a particularly difficult section. We walked to a convenience store to resupply and were about to start hitch hiking back to the main part of town and up to the trailhead. As we were putting our stuff in our packs Mason from Connecticut (see pic section) walked up and started asking us questions about our hike. It seems there are 3 kinds of people who offer us rides or pick us up while hitch hiking. They are: 1) hikers or people associated with the hiking community, 2) locals who used to hikers and, 3) people who have had major adventures. Mason fell into the latter category. He bicycled across the U.S. many years ago. Even though he was going north, he drove us several miles south. Mason dropped us off at a Burger King where we got some breakfast. Trouble went outside and I could see her talking to and older local man. When I went out I could hear him telling her about all his world travels and somehow I know she was going to get us a ride to the trailhead. Sure enough, after a few minutes she said he was willing to give us a ride in the back of his pickup truck. There's not a lot to say about the hike today. It was a fairly easy and short hike. It was a relaxing day and at Cove Mountain Shelter we spent some more time talking to the section hikers, Weight Watcher, Faucet, and Rapunzel. While I was there I found the first tick on me. Many of my fellow hikers have found multiple ticks on themselves. I do regular tick checks but until today have always come away clean. This one was not embedded, he was just walking on me so no worries. Since I don't have a lot to say about the hike today I thought you might find the shelter journals interesting. Each shelter usually has a journal and the majority of notes are from people saying they stopped for a break or spent the night. I usually make an entry in case anything happens to me someone will know my last location. Some people are very creative with their entries. Here are some I thought you might enjoy. "Oh Cody Coyote, where have you gone?Do make haste, hurry along!Too many moons indeed have passed, I know not when your countenance I saw last. Perhaps you sit in a meadow somewhere,drinking in the spring time air? Or maybe your gathering ramps and chives?Do you walk by night with candle for light?Assuredly I tell you,yes, this much is true;Your comical ways go unmatched on the trail,When you're not here,Even the blades of grass shall wail. You are missed young coyote!Hope to see you up the way!"This one has a different tone:"To the "other guy" with the black lab. Not sure who you are but I've been stopped by the cops in two towns now. They say you're a wanted man. Just my luck, the only description they have is your name and you're with a black lab. If I'm questioned at every town I go into, well I guess ya gotta do what you gotta do."When we reached Jennings Creek there was my old friend Dreamer and his wife providing trail magic. THANK YOU Dreamer and Terri!!! Dreamer is still on the trail and is about 30 miles north of us. When his wife came to zero with him they wanted to do some trail magic for his hiking buddies. Tonight, for the first time, we are camping in an actual campground. Sparky and Orange Peel, a father and daughter team, are camped next to us. We built a fire, roasted hot dogs, and chatted this evening. I last saw them 35 days ago so it was fun to catch up and swap stories.