Date: 2008-07-01
From: Dutch Haus

To: Dutch Haus
Miles today: 10.0

Now you have to have stayed at Dutch Haus before to understand the breakfast concept. Lois prepares a breakfast for the hikers and puts it on a plate.Those who have been hiking since Springer get the normal HUGE portions. Those of us just starting and not having a hiker appetite yet, got what she calls the child portion. Let's just say that child had a lot to eat. She has a rule that you can't leave until all is eaten.If you can't eat, it you pass it to the left until it's all gone. I definitely did not have a big appetite so the thru hikers got extra from me. They were glad to get it. I forgot how much a thru hiker can eat! Breakfasts consisted of pancakes with fruit that was fresh picked the day before, such as blueberries or blackberries, an egg casserole of some type, sausage, biscuits, some type of pound cake or sweet treat, fruit, juice and lots of good coffee. It seems whoever gets up first turns the coffee pot on. I usually did that as I am an early riser. I liked to get up and have my first cup of coffee and just watch the birds from her closed patio. It was so peaceful and made me want to get out there in the woods soon.After Breakfast we got our gear togeather. There were 3 other hikers there that night who were hiking on that day. One was a young man from the UK and it was nice to here the stories from previous hiking. Soon we were all put into vehicles to be shuttled to the drop off points. I had the privilege to be taken to mine by her father. He was a very nice man and had a wealth of knowledge to share. He told me of different types of plants along the way and I enjoyed it a lot. I learned what a snake root plant was. He remined me of my father who also had a great knowledge of the outdoors and would share it with me on a daily basis. We got to the drop off and I unloaded my day pack and got my poles in order and he sent me in the right direction. We laughed because he said one time he sent hikers in the wrong direction.I started off into the woods wondering if I would be able to make the milage today. The first little upgrade, notice I said "UP" grade, hit me and I was sounding like a freight train huffing and puffing along. I soon came upon the ridge runner who was coming back from his walk that morning. We talked for a while and then off I went. The terrain was easy for a person who has done more than sit at a desk for 4 months. However, I was really pushing to make mileage. The ups seemed so hard but the downs seemed worse and they pushed on the legs harder, But I kept going. I stopped frequently to catch my breath and to take pictures of things I had not seen in a while. Small critters, cool looking trees, unusual rocks, you name it,it caught my eye. I drank to keep hydrated because I know my body does not work well when I do not drink water. I also snacked to keep up the energy. I saw a cool looking tree growing right out of a huge rock!!! Of course I had to take a picture of that. I did not run into anyone for quite a while. I figured I was soon at a shelter, which according to Appalachian Pages is right on the trail. Well someone didn't do their research because it was about .3 off the trail. I stopped there to eat something more substantial and use the privy. By the way, I found some odd looking bee type creatures in the privy that did not move at all. Not sure what they were. I then ran across Pete's Draggin who was heading to the Dutch Haus for the night. I told him to tell Lois I was in my way but a lot slower than he was. I also met Marky Mark there who was eating his dinner before flying on.I got back on the trail and knew I had about 4 miles to go. It was an easy hike and the trail was interesting. I came upon a rock scramble so to speak and had some fun tryig not to fall down as I navigated it. I said a few choice words as I slipped and tripped over them. If not for my Leki poles I would have kissed the rocks a few times.When I finally reached the junction where I had to go down Fish Hatchery Road, I was starting to hurt. I had 1.1 miles left to go. But these miles were down hill on a gravel road which is very hard to walk on because your feet roll on the gravel. I cautiously made my way down. It seemed like the longest mile of the whole day. I came across a older couple who was driving their truck down the road and they offered me a ride the rest of the way. I hopped on the back and they dropped me off at the gate. I waited for Lois to pick me up, Since I wasn't sure of how long it would take me, we didn't set a time. She said she would just check for me after 6pm. It was 6:30 when I finally made it.I laughed as I tried to get in her vehicle. My legs were so sore. 10 miles for a firsts day! I wasn't sure I would make it but I did. It felt so good to know I could hike that far after being so lazy at my desk. I was sore, but happy.We went back to the Dutch Haus and I got out of the car very slowly and made my way up the stairs to the house. I went to my room and when the shower became available I got in and let the hot water run all over me. The water felt good. I got dressed and sat in the front room until dinner. When I tried to get up I was so stiff. My legs would not cooperate. I ate dinner and then went to bed. I was tired, but a good tired.