Date: 2012-05-13
From: No name camsite

To: Trout Creek campsite
Miles today: 12.0

Slept like a baby last night.  I was exhausted.  While typing my blog last night a deer walked to within 20 yards of my hammock.  I turned my headight on and he ran off.  He was not very happy.  He snort/wheezed several times. Guess he never seen a hammock hanging in his trees before.  About a half hour later he was curious enough to come back for another look.  He ran off again.     Woke up this morning and packed slow.  We knew there was an 8th Annual hiker feed at the next road crossing.  Three ladies led by Ann Roberts are gracious enough to cook  food in dutch ovens for the hikers coming through.  They have this process perfected!!  The ovens are stacked on top of one another and have coals on each lid.  They baked lasagna, apple crisp, cooked veggies and even grilled casadias on the bottom of one of the lids.  Everything was delicious.  One of them hiked the trail a few years ago at age 58.  They enjoy doing the feed and will cook twice a year. Mothers Day and Memorial Day.     We sat around untill about 2:30. When we left there were at least 20 hikers enjoying the feast. We had about a 2000 ft climb ahead of us, which would take us to the Audie Murphy Memorial.  Murphy was the most decorated soldier of World War 11 and was killed in a plane crash near the memorial.  It was a wonderful tribute to a great American!!  Large stone marker scribed with his medals.  There was even a flagpole with the American Flag flying proud over the Texas state flag.  A true American, like so many others that have served our country before and after his time.  We are able to enjoy the freedoms we have because of people like him.  Thanks to all the veterans of our armed forces.  They have died giving us our freedom, we can never let anyone from abroad or this land try and take that away.  We live in a great country and I would have it no other way.     We continued the hike until about 630. We made camp just before the rain.  There were several other hikers join the area. All came from the feed.   Tomorrow F100 and Steady will meet some friends in Catawba, Va and spend a couple of days off the trail.  We met another hiker our age today at the feed. His name is Old Goose.  He is meeting his wife tomorrow and they are driving to Daleville.  He plans to slack pack 5 days with his wife's support. He has offered to drive me to Daleville where I need to go and buy some new trail shoes.  Mine have officially fallen apart.  He has also invited me to slack pack with him.  I will take him up on the offer.  I will get my shoes and slack pack with them.  If I am not satisfied I will return them.  If I like them I will continue north toward the Shanandoahs.  My wife will meet me at the southern end of the SNP and I will spend three days enjoying her company and staying off the feet.  I am so looking forward to seeing her.  During this time F100 and Steady should catch up.  I have met two remarkable people that I am sure are now lifelong friends.  Dania may get to meet them in SNP.  I feel she will instantly become friends as I did.   I hope to summit Katahdin with them by early September.  F100 likes to fish. I have promised him a fishing trip of a lifetime if they drive to Louisiana to visit.   Well it is raining and I am going to sleep.  A very great day today on the A.T.   Swamprat