Date: 2014-05-30
From: BRP crossing, mile 791.7

To: US 60, then Home
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: light rain

Oma fixed another great breakfast, then we all packed up, drove to the trail in Linda's car, and started hiking. Pretty soon I Believe and her friend caught up with us and hiked on. I was pleased that on today's section, the Mountain Laurel were putting on a grand display for everyone!We had arranged for Oma to meet us at Reservoir Rd at 10:00, but due to a slightly later than planned start, and a slower than anticipated pace, we managed to call her and shift out meeting to 11:00. The first two miles were short ups and downs, and Laurel's knee started bothering her on the steeper downhills. The last two miles were going to be all downhill. We were all having fun hiking together, but after we started down the last long downhill, we were getting really concerned about Laurel's knee. Checking the AT Hiker app on my phone, I noticed that at three miles an old road crossed the AT and had a short distance to a Forest Service road that connected with the road Oma would be on. So Linda and I sped ahead to that road. After walking down it a short distance to confirm it was the right one, I continued on down the AT to meet Oma while Linda waited there to stop the rest of the gang when they caught up. I met Oma right on time and we drove to the end of the road where Linda was waiting - that road was gated so Oma couldn't drive up it, plus there was a fast running wide creek to ford even if the gate were open. There were rocks across the creek that I could have used to keep my feet dry, but they were mossy and slick looking, so I just waded across. Now was not a good time to injure myself slipping on a rock. I hiked up the short distance on that road to where everyone was waiting for me. Laurel had had a short break and hiked to Oma's car fine along with the rest of us. Faith and I helped Laurel wade across the creek while Linda and Sarah tried to rock hop across. Sarah was the only one to make it with dry shoes!Oma drove us back to the point I met her. Linda and Faith would have liked to continue on with me, but since it was now later than we had planned, only Sarah joined me for a power hike the remaining 6.8 miles. Oma took Linda, Faith and Laurel back to the hostel where they picked up Faith's car, then drove down to pick up Linda's car, then to US 60 to meet Sarah and me. Sarah and I made great time covering the 6.8 miles in a little over two and a half hours. The last three miles or so were a gradual climb following along the Brown Mountain Creek. I have not seen the trail follow a creek so closely for such a distance before. There were historical markers telling of this valley being farmed by freed slaves after the civil war until around 1920, when it was not longer viable and the land was sold to the Forest Service.We all piled into the cars and drove to our house, stopping enroute to buy some fresh strawberries! After dinner, Sarah continued on to her apartment to get ready for tomorrow. Head Tunes: Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet - Twila Paris. When Sarah and I were hiking together, somehow the conversation went from Sarah recounting taking her ear rings out and pinning them to her PJs collar after getting in bed last night to joking about getting a lamp tattoo on one's foot to reference the scripture about Thy word is a lamp unto my feet. Shortly afterwards, and independently, Sarah and I both were singing that song in our heads. Not a bad hiking song!Another fun family vacation day! Zeros tomorrow and Sunday to help Sarah get ready to move. :-)