Date: 2007-06-10
From: Kinkora Hostel

To: Kinkora Hostel
Miles today: 8.9

This morning, I cook some oatmeal before we all pile into Bob Peoples truck, heading for the lake. Mom pays him to drive her to Damascus, VA, which most of us hope to hike to within the next two days, being a distance of 41.3-miles after our slackpack today.Two other ladies showed up last night, Breezy and Firefly. Both are friends from Florida, with Firefly being from Sweden originally. She said she moved to the States in 1987, so I say, "That's the year I started kindergarten!" "Thanks!" she says, laughing with a smile on her face! All of us pile into the truck, and off to Watauga Lake we go! At the lake, Bob makes sure to point out the southerly direction, making sure we hike in the right direction back to his hostel!Bob Peoples knows this section of the Trail like the back of his hand. He told us yesterday, "Going south through this 9-mile section is the better way to go! Trust me, I know, I built and maintain this Trail! Going south, you have 5-switchbacks to the ridgeline, with only one down! Imagine doing that in a northerly direction! Also, you end with the beautiful Laurel Falls!" He proves to be right, as Grace counts the switchbacks on the climb to the ridge. We slowly end up going our own ways, either solo or small groups. I end up at the front of the gang, eager to be in the forested mountains again, testing out the durability of my leg. It feels great, and I'm thrilled at the prospect of getting back on the Trail for real in the morning! At the top of the ridge, I stop to relieve myself, get a snack, and a swig of water. Burns catches up with me, and we walk together for the rest of the day. During the descent---which is really steep and rocky---we discuss music, from Miles Davis to Radiohead. We find we have much in common, regarding music. Yesterday, Bob also told us of a nice spot to go skinny-dipping. "Most hikers don't carry swimsuits on them, as that's just extra weight!" he tells us. He said to cross so many number of bridges along the river, then to count a certain number of white blazes, dipping into an unmarked tunnel of rhododendrons. Burns and I opt to at least look for the spot, before deciding to skinny-dip or not. The Trail goes along a glorious cliff side before dipping more into the gorge, and bringing us to the beautiful Laurel Falls. Burns removes his shoes and shirt, and goes for a swim. As is my custom, I'm wearing pants. I think of swimming in my underwear, but Grace and her dad can't be far behind us, and I can't assume that they'd be cool with me doing that; also, after long a number of families show up. This isn't the best place to skinny-dip, or at least go in ones undies! I do remove my boots and shirt, though, and to soak my feet in the water.After a good while, Burns and I press on, hunting for the skinny-dipping hole. We apparently miss it, as the next thing we see is Dennis Cove Road! We're not up for backtracking, so we head back to the hostel. Shortly after our arriving there, most of the other hikers show up. Breezy and Firefly did find the skinny-dipping hole, as they told us how much fun it was! What a shame! They said that as soon as they decided to dry off and get dressed, they spotted a young man up on the cliff top. How long had he been there? Had he just shown up, right after they got dressed? They obviously had no way of knowing, but were slightly creeped out by the situation, they said.Bob takes us back into town, where we get any final needed food items. I bought all of mine over the past two days, so I just go get something to eat while the others do their shopping. I try a local restaurant, but it's closed (the day is Sunday), so I head to Arby's. Grace and her dad are there, and I eat with them, having a splendid conversation. What good people they are!Back at the hostel, two other hikers have shown up: Badger and Scott! Badger is a new one for me, but Scott I met back at Uncle Johnny's! It's going to be a full-house in the bunk room tonight!I'm much more conservative with my food intake today, as I don't want a repeat of yesterday, with another stomach cramp do to the consumption of gluttonous volumes of food! I go to bed with a full stomach, but with a smile on my face, rather than grimacing from the pain like last night. Tomorrow, I head back on the Trail, hoping to do some 23-miles.