Date: 2019-05-16
From: Overmountain Shelter 

To: ScottyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Budget Solar Hostel 
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night was cold in the barn.  I slept good from about 800 until 230. I had alot of dreams. I was in and out of sleep from 230 until 630 when I got out of bed. Today¢s hike was by far the most pleasurable. I walked over mountain balds with spectacular views, through meadows, along rivers, and through pine forest. I felt great and was in a good mood. At one point I was walking along and the trail ended, that¢s usually not good.  I walked a little more in the tall grass and found a post with a white blaze on it. So, being the purists I then walked south on the trail until I found where I had taken the wrong turn. Of course there were a bunch of branches across the path, I had stepped right over them. I think I must have been reveling in the fact I had just seen someone painting white blazes onto the trees. There are approximately 165,000 blazes along the trail. I was impressed to have actually seen someone painting them.  I thanked them for maintaining the trail as most of the maintainers are volunteers. Later I ran into Ambassador slack packing, She said it was wonderful. I may do some slack packing Saturday and Sunday as Seaneen will be in town, and it¢s trail days.I was walking along a river today and thought it might be nice to soak my feet. The water was crystal clear and ankle deep. I waded in to the middle with my washcloth and took a river bath. I felt good today and still had energy late in the day in spite of the climbs. I reached a shelter at mile 18. I got water and felt like continuing.  I reached mile 19 and the tent site was un exciting. I decided to make it a 20 mile day and stealth camp somewhere. I was cruising along about mile 21 and was thinking this might turn into a marathon but I was getting tired.  I then saw four men walking toward me. One or two of them had beers, obviously not through hikers.  They asked if I was through hiking and where I was staying?  I said yes and I was looking for s place to stealth camp.  They said, stay at Scotty¢s.  ???? They said it¢s .25 miles off the trail right there, the grill is warm, there is steak in the white cooler, grill one up we¢ll be back in 30.  Also, that is Scotty, guy number 3 in the line.  I said you guys are life savers. I walked down a side trail, found the grill, found the steak, and found a beer.  I later learned they are all former through hikers.  Scotty is from Streamwood IL and Backdraft was an Oaklawn, IL firefighter. I was not planning on staying at a hostel but things happen for a reason. I think hiker hunger has set in. I had usual 2 oatmeals for breakfast and a Clif Bar for mid morning snack.  I stopped at a hostel for lunch. The food wagon was closed so I had:4-5 chocolate chip cookies4-5 Cookie/brownie bars1 bag lays barbecue chips1 mountain house granola with berries 2 string cheese 16oz fruit/energy drinkMaybe that¢s why I still had energy late in the day.I weighed myself at Scotty¢s, 180, that¢s another 5 lbs!!!!I hit mile 400 today!!!!!Wildlife update, I saw what I believe was a pheasant today. All is good, and I¢m Just Taking Steps.