Date: 2012-05-21
From: Spring Campsite

To: Wind Rock campsite
Miles today: 22.9

05/21/12 (pirmadienis) 22.9 ¢ 656.9 Springs ¢ Wind RockI¡au¡o puikus rytas, tik viena beda ¢ galva lyg samanu prikim¡ta. Taip tesesi kokias pora valandu ir tik paimtas ibuprofenas ir kofeinas palengvino gyvenima. Kuo toliau tuo daresi geriau ir Pine Swamp ¡elteri pasiekiau visai 34valus. Nusileidimas iki jo buvo labai smagus. Prad34ioje takas raitesi lyg gyvatukas ¡laitu, o paskiau nere i gilu tarpekli ir kuri laika ejo ¡alia upok¡nio.  elteryje u34kandau, laukdamas kol i¡d34ius batai ir kojines. Upelyje nusiprausiau taip dar labiau pakeldamas nuotaika. Netrukus cia atejo pailseti Coral, o a¡ patraukiau toliau. A¡ vel, kaip ir ¢06 vietoj AT pasirinkau ¢blue blaze¢ takeli ir netrukus buvau ties Big Stony Creek Rd plentu. Aik¡teleje, kur prasideda tas ¢blue blaze¢ stovejo trokelis su kelionine buda, o ¡alia jo sedejo ir mezge moteri¡ke. Ka34kaip ¡is vaizdas man pasirode siurrealus. Nusileid34iu nuo kalniuko, ¡ypsausi ir klausiu moteri¡kes:- ka tu cia darai? Matau kad ji mezga, bet vis tiek klausiu,- o kas tu toks, paklause ji manes,- a¡, sakau, esu varg¡as ir alkanas haikeris!Man ji atsake, kad laukia savo vyro Spot. Jis thru-hikina ir turejo netrukus pasirodyti. Bet prad34ioje ¡iek tiek sutriko, kai vietoje savo vyro pamate mane. Dabar man pasidare ai¡ku kokioje komi¡koje situacijoje buvome atsidure. Pasiule ji man spurgu, bet perspejo kad galiu paimti tik dvi. Paemiau viena, sakydamas kad ¢rojaus¢ galima tureti tik truputi. Dar ¡variu geriamu vandeniu su¡elpe ir a¡, nuo¡ird34iai padekojes, linksmas ir laimingas patraukiau pora myliu plentu iki tos vietos, kur ji kerta AT.Vienu momentu pradejo griaudeti ir netrukus i¡silijo. Bailey Gap ¡elteryje jau buvo keli 34mogeliai, bet kol pasidariau ir suvalgiau vakariene, prigu34ejo pilnas ¡elteris. Dabar cia esame septyniese, o patogiai nakvoti galima tik esant ¡e¡iems. Netrukus pra¡viesejo, ¡yptelejo saule ir man atejo gera mintis palikti ¡elteri. Susidejau viska atgal i kuprine ir atsisveikinau su liekanciais. Dar nuejau keturias mylias iki Wind Rock. A¡ 34inojau ta vieta: netoliese randasi puiki stovyklaviete. Taip ir buvo. Pasistaciau palapine, nufotografavau vaizda nuo Wind Rock ir griuvau miegoti su mintimi rytoj atsikelti prie¡ patekant saulei ir sutikti ryta ant uolos.---|---Dawned a perfect morning, but I had one problem ¢ I felt as my head was stuffed with moss. It lasted a couple of hours, and only taken ibuprofen and caffeine made life easier. The more I walk the better I felt. And reached Pine Swamp shelter quite fresh. Descent from the ridge was very nice. Originally trail meandered like a serpentine on the slope, and then plunged into a deep ravine, and some time went near the brook. At shelter, I snacked, waiting to dry shoes and socks, washed my body in rivulet thereby lifting the mood. Soon there came to rest Coral, and I drew on. Again, as in '06, instead of AT I chose "blue blaze" trail and soon I was on Big Stony Creek Rd highway. At the "blue blaze" trailhead stood camping truck, and next to him sat a woman in knitting. Somehow, this picture seemed to me surreal. Smiling I asked her:- What are you doing here? I saw that she is knitting, but still asked,- And who are you, she asked me,- I said, I am poor and hungry hiker! She replied that she was waiting her husband Spot. He is thru-hiking and was about to appear. But at first she was slightly embarrassed when instead husband she saw me. Now for me became clear in what comic situation we found ourselves. She offered me doughnuts, but warned that I can only take two. I took one, saying that "haven" can be reached with just a little bit. Even I was dole out with clean drinking water. I sincerely thanked. Then cheerfuly and happy I walk a couple of miles on the highway to the point where it crosses the AT.At one point, thunder began to rumble and rain came soon. At Bailey Gap shelter has been a few hikers but until I made and ate dinner, it was filled out with many. Now here we are seven persons, and comfortable accommodation is only for six. Soon sky enlightened, the sun smiled and for me came a good idea to leave the shelter. I packed everything back and said goodbye to the remaining and went four miles more to Wind Rock. I knew about this place: a fantastic campsite is located nearby. I set up tent, took a photo from Wind Rock and with the idea for tomorrow to get up before sunrise and greet the morning on the rock, collapsed to sleep.