Date: 2016-05-13
From: 501 

To: Hwy 183 Rock and Soul Hostel
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: scattered clouds

1202.5 I spend the day as I hike mostly vigilant about where I should step, praying for whoever comes to my mind and heart from back home as well as those I have met on the trail. I feel the lovely breezes, smell the wonderful fragrances of the forest, hear the beautiful songs of the birds, see the intricate designs and variety of colors and shapes surrounding me when all of a sudden, from about two to three yards behind me comes the full and lovely song of my husband, "Oh Lord my God, when I on awesome wonder..." or a praise chorus and I am in heaven. I can't join in much because I can't hike and breath and sing at the same time but my heart and mind join in. I am so thankful that Bob decided to hike with me. He is the icing on the cake. However, later today as we were traversing some very rocky trail, I heard "Tiptoe through the ro-ocks, won't you follow me, and Tiptoe through the ro-ocks with me... Oh- oh" It rained much of the night and was still raining in the morning so it was hard to get started. Everything had to be packed before we took the tarp down. Today's trail was difficult mainly because it was raining all day-today...well until about 2:00. It wasn't just sprinkling. It was pouring. I was soaked to the skin. I can't stand to wear the rain jacket because I end up soaked in it anyway with perspiration. I can't stand the poncho because it, also, makes me sweat and I can't see due to the hood. If I keep moving, I can stay warm even though I am soaked. There were several areas of large boulder fields today. Once after a good long way the trail through these boulders, the trail went sharply downhill...so, according to Bob, we would not miss the chance to walk through the large boulders at the bottom of the hill. Once we had hiked perilously through them, the trail headed back up the mountain. It was not what you would call fun in the rain, but not as bad as some previous ones. It was the long swampy trails that became tiresome but the woods they were in the middle of were delightful. Sometimes when I get discouraged while hiking I remind myself, " you are on the actual Appalachian Trail and you are hiking it.". I cheer up. I am living a dream though Bob says it is sometimes more like a nightmare. We saw a couple of tiny orange frogs in the swampy area.. Their camouflage was perfectly matched to the fallen leaves. We also saw some wild orchids today. We were told by a local that they are called lady's slipper.   We were so thankful when the rain dissipated at 2 rather than at five per the forecast but we were still thoroughly wet when picked up by our shuttle. I saw another little chipmunk today as well.We came to 183 and joined Zip-tie in the hostel (Rock and Soul Hostel) where she was staying . It was a reasonable price and it includes breakfast and supper and free ride to the dollar store, to the trail, and to church on Sunday. We also plan to do some slack packing on Sunday after church. We have decided to go to a regular service on Sunday instead of the early service so as not to miss the full worship experience. Saturday will be a zero to pick up my new shoes from the post office and a pad from Cabella's (I hope). This hostel will shuttle us to the post office and Cabella's and slack pack us a bit. Slack packing on Sunday will get 5 miles if the trail done but will mean walking an extra 2 and a half twice to get up to the trail at a midpoint. My daughter-in-law, Ashley, hopped right on it when I texted her that I needed her to send the box with the new shoes in it asap. I am very thankful to her for this. I am hoping they will help my ankle issues. My shoes wear irregularly and are now worn so badly that they throw my feet to the inside. Bob was going to invest in some new boots at Cabella's but the hiker box here at this hostel had some practically new ones left on the hiker box just his size(13). He is going to wear them all day tomorrow and Sunday before he decides to send his others home. A hiker box generally has things you don't want just as the hiker who unloaded them there didn't want them. Sometimes there are the extra packets of food as when someone had to purchase a packet of ten and only needed three, etc. And perhsos that food item is just what you need.We are going to go through our packs and send anything we are not using or think we can get along without to our son John who has promised to resupply us with items that we later discover we can't live without. This is to try to shed some weight from our packs. I am going to switch from the poncho to a simple backpack cover. That should save some weight. I will also be getting rid of my heavy long underwear. Bob will be looking for a smaller knife at Cabella's and sending back his Leatherman as well as his big flashlight (mini-mag).My granddaughter finished her first round of Chemo. We pray that it is effective with minimal side effects. We continue to pray for each member of that part of our heart as they face considerable stress.   Sorrow hits like waves pushing us to prayer often. I am always worried about running out of water so I drink less than I should and I worry about running out of phone battery so I miss messages.   I basically get on and get off the phone while on the trail. I think to myself that I will catch up at the next town stop but when a town stop comes along there is laundry, resupply, eating of fresh food, and showers to take and I never get caught up. If you really need to catch me, text me. I will see it at night before I sleep at least. We have never completely run out if water or batery charge yet. I do check guest book entrys more regularly now.