Date: 2017-05-04
From: Dicks Creek Gap - Top of Georgia Hostel

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

1.  Date: Sunsday, Thrimidge 14 (5/04)2.  Day 93.  Morning temp: 634.  Weather: Overcast. Storm due in. 5.  Time start: 08106.  Time stop and miles: 1539/11.87.  End point: Muskrat Creek Shelter8.  Events: wind, rain at end of dayLog:I really don't sleep that well on Hostel beds.  I toss and turn and my arms get numb.  I lay there wishing I was in my hammock. Floating on air.People started moving around 6 and I got up and started getting my stuff together out on the porch. I weighed my pack after loading it up, and it was 31 lbs.  Not bad with about five days of food. We went into the main area for breakfast and Bob was giving his talk with lots of good advice for hikers. LoGear, Life and I caught the 0800 shuttle back to the trail with several others and we headed up the trailThe Hostel was full last night and was all booked up today too due to an impending storm that was due to arrive.  Sitting in a hostel for another day to avoid Mother Nature's weather was not our style, so hike we did.The weather was actually perfect for hiking.  Overcast with a slight breeze, but no rain yet.  We thought we would get a couple miles in before the storm hit.We hiked for almost six miles before we felt the first drops and they never got worse than a sprinkle until just before getting to the shelter. At 9 miles, we crossed the border from GA to NC. We took our pictures and Life made a short video for her kids. After Bly Gap we had about 900 feet to climb before getting to the shelter, so we went at it slow and steady.  It would be steep for a time, then level off, then go down some, before climbing again.  The wind steadily picked up as we moved higher and the storm threatened to start.  I kept throwing pieces of buttermilk ranch pretzels into the forest as an offering to Pamola to spare us until we were done hiking.We filled up our water at a spring right before the shelter and headed in, just as the rain picked up.  The storm had arrived with us at the shelter.LoGear decided to sleep in the shelter.  I don't have my pad yet and wanted to sleep in my hammock anyway, so I set up my tarp first, using it to block the rain and then put up the hammock under the protection of the tarp.  It worked pretty well. I put on pretty much all my clothes as it is supposed to get cold tonight and got everything ready in the hammock. I had purchased a space blanket at the Hostel and spread it out in the double liner under me.  It appears to be working well so far.In the shelter tonight are LoGear, Life, Nicole and her dog Leo and Bruno.  There are a couple campers out in their tents and I'm snug in my hammock as the rain falls on the tarp and the wind gusts.We  made our best time today, hiking 11.8 miles in 7 hours and 29 minutes. My feet didn't hurt as much as two days ago.  Maybe our bodies are starting to get used to this constant pounding.Tomorrow we might try for a 12.5 mile day two shelters down, or we will stop earlier if we aren't up to it. Flora: Rhody bloomsFauna: SquirrelVOD: burnt over forestSmell: burnt woodSound: the girls talking behind meHigh: crossing GA/NC borderLow: being chilled right after we got to the ShelterHope: a dry and not too cold night.