Date: 2008-02-02
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Tanyard Gap, NC
Miles today: 5.9

I woke up thinking I was feeling pretty good this morning.I made coffee and had cereal with cold milk for breakfast.I figured I would do a short slack today from Tanyard Gap back to Hot Springs and I would see how I felt after that.Dan, from Bluff Mtn Outfitters gave me a ride to Tanyard Gap and dumped me out of the car. :-)I started walking south at 10:40am. It was a beautiful, sunny and mild day.I checked my cell phone and I did have data service, so I sent in some pictures from the last couple days and my journal for the zero I took yesterday.Not a lot to write about when all I'm doing is trying to get over this cold as fast as I can.It took about 15 minutes to send in the data to Mrs Gorp, and then I continued walking.There was still some hoar frost in the Trail, but I imagine that should be gone before long....we have a warming trend for the next few days.I didn't have any water or food with me. I figured I might somehow survive a 6 mile walk without either. :-)I started getting hungry...I guess cause I knew I didn't have any food. Ha! :-)I did some climbing, and then walked down a gravel road for a short while before turning back into the woods.I came by a nice little pond and got a picture of it. The surface was all iced over.I kept walking and passed by Pump Gap, then got to where I started seeing the French Broad River below.It was running very brown from all the rain we had lately.I got to the rocky overlook of Lover's Leap and took a couple pictures, then stopped at the next couple of overlooks and got more pictures.I didn't linger today. I had felt pretty good this morning, but once I got walking and drawing in the cooler air, I started getting congested again and my nose started running....darn, I thought I was over that. :-(I kept walking down the mountain and eventually got to the river. The Trail followed down river for about half a mile, then I crossed on the bridge and walked into Hot Springs.I stopped at a campstore and bought an Italian hoagie, some chips and a Coke for lunch.I took those back to my room and ate, and then I stretched out for a minute on the bed.I still had my shoes on because I planned on walking to the outfitter's and checking my email.Next thing I knew, it was 2 1/2 hours later!I had fallen sound asleep. :-)I probably would have slept longer, but I woke up to a train going by.I did go check my email. I really have to thank everyone for all the emails and guestbook entries....and I will answer everyone the first chance I get. That will probably be from Erwin.I would love to answer now, but there's no data service here in Hot Springs and I don't feel right tying up the outfitter's computer for any longer than it takes to check my email.Please be patient, but don't stop emailing! :-)I ate a burger and onion rings at Paddler's Pub for dinner.It was getting late, so I walked back to my nice warm room for the night.I'll decide in the morning if I walk out tomorrow or not. I'm hoping to give the ol' bod enough time to heal without stressing it too much...but I could get fat if I stay here too long! :-)Another great day on the Appalachian Trail! :-)