Date: 2009-04-21
From: Dennis Cove, USFS 50, TN 

To: Watauga Lake Shelter, TN 
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: moderate rain

Cell goodOG notesMy memory of this section of the trail didn't help me at all. I was thinking it was shorter than it turned out to be. We didn't go as far as the last time and I struggled. We arrived at the shelter with the sun shining and a nice breeze. We put up a line and aired out our sleeping bag and dried our tent. What a nice afternoon.We cooked Tortillini tonight for dinner. We added a package of Lipton Tomato Cup of Soup and cut up string cheese. It turned out really good and we both enjoyed it. Sometimes you have to be creative to make the food enjoyable, this time we succeeded who knows what will happen the next time.I'm hoping the weather is going to improve soon, I'm getting tired of the rain and cold. I got spoiled by the 2006 weather, we didn't have all this cold weather. The one thing that goes through my head is, "If this were easy everyone would be doing it." To be a sucessful thru-hiker you have to endure a lot of unpleasant things. The weather, the aches and pains, the sometimes boredom, being too late to get a dry spot in the shelter, and sometimes running out of drinking water. Each of these things make you stronger and test your resolve. A challenge doesn't bring out your character, it reveals it.It's cooling off now and I'm heading for my sleeping bag. Goodnight.C6 notesWhen OG came to bed last night he said some of the folks in the hostel were talking about new aches and pains, and feeling frustrated that they weren't feeling perfectly fine by now. That helped me feel better. I'm finding my feet are okay (today) going up and down hills, but my right foot arch hurts a lot when I walk on flat surfaces. This is one time I'm happy that most of our walking is up and down hills. My foot feels okay in my crocs.We've shortened our days somewhat to try and help build up our strength and help my foot, so today was an 11 mile day. We originally planned to take 3 days to get to Damascus, but now are doing it in 4 days. We just made reservations at a Bed & Breakfast in Damascus for the weekend and we'll thoroughly enjoy 2 days off. I'm looking forward to that.Fun group at the shelter tonight - Red Leg, Rolling Stone (and his dog, Coal), Gritty, Gromet, OG, and me. One main part of each evening's entertainment is when folks throw ropes to hang their food in trees (called "Bear Bags"). The intent is to get the rope over a high branch about 5 ft or more out from the main tree. Then you tie your food bags on one end of the rope and pull the bags up high...hanging about 3-4 ft below the branch and at least 12 ft above the ground. The other end of the rope gets tied around another tree to keep the bags hanging.Rolling Stone is here with his dog, Coal, and insists we don't need to hang our food with Coal around. I believe him, but we still hang our food because that's what we do every day. This is the third night we've been at the same place at night with Rolling Stone and Coal. I usually get up at least once a night to pee. Coal doesn't move - he just opens his eyes and watches me go by. It's cute. He's a good dog.Last night was interesting with 3 dogs who were on the porch of the hostel. When I went by them to use the bathroom, they were quiet and pretty much ignored me. When OG went by them they barked, growled, and bared their teeth at him. The owner of two of the dogs had to come out to quiet the down. When we talked about those dogs with Rolling Stone and Red Leg this evening, Red Leg said the girl's two dogs seem to hate men. That makes sense why they were fine with me going by, but not OG.It's nice to be able to stay out of our sleeping bags later this evening. It's getting cooler out, but with enough layers we can sit at the picnic table. Gritty and Gromet are playing cards, Rolling Stone is writing in his journal, and Red Leg is hanging out. A very nice evening, with very nice people.Old Goat & Check Six