Date: 2003-04-13
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: clear sky

Up and out of camp by 9:00. Slept pretty well even though I was awakened several times by Cade and Dylan, (Two Dog Night¢s dogs) barking at something. We think that one of the barking sessions was over a raccoon, and in talking with Michelle we learned that she saw 2 people come walking through camp (without packs on :-( ) during the major barking. Its kind of scary to think there were people wandering through camp in the middle of the night and that if the dogs hadn¢t been barking, Michelle would not have seen them. I¢ve noticed some people using their stuff sacks at night and putting their extra clothes in them to use as a pillow so I got to thinking maybe I could do something like that with my legs. You see, after a big mile day when I go to sleep, my legs seem to throb so I¢m constantly tossing and turning. Last night I used my clothes bag and put it under my knees. Let me tell ya I think that¢s what made my night¢s sleep so good. I¢ll definitely be doing that more often. Packed up, made breakfast (my last 2 oatmeals) and headed out. Sleepy Floyd, Stephen, Viking, Chuck, Two Dog, Heather (Head Lamp), Mark (Superman), and myself stayed together today. We had a few climbs to make during the first few miles but then it was all down hill. We made it to the road by 12:30 and called for the shuttle to come and get us. Got here to the Village Motel and got our rooms then went to lunch. I had a turkey melt with fries and a coke, what a good sandwich. After that we wandered around the village, checked everything out and just sat around and relaxed. After getting cleaned up we went to dinner where we met up with Smokey, Christy, and Cap¢n Ben. It was a hiker gathering of sorts since everyone in the restaurant was a thru hiker. Sleepy Floyd, Viking, and I all got our own rooms this time, so I left a note for Smokey to call me before she checked in, in case she wanted to crash in my room and she did. Now we¢re just hanging out and watching TV.So far I¢ve learned that I¢m much tougher than I used to be. I¢m talking mental not physical. I¢ve had a couple days where I wanted to just sit down and cry and not take another step but I just talk myself out of it and keep going. A few years ago I probably would have sat there and cried. So I think I¢ve definitely come a long way. I can also tell that my body is getting stronger, I hardly have to stop anymore on the uphills :-).About Cade and Dylan ¢ Two Dog Night¢s dogs. I mentioned before that she had them trained before she came out here by a private trainer. They walk behind her on the trail and since they can¢t walk side by side, they are always switching which one gets to be first. She put reflective collars on both of them so at night she can tell if it¢s them or a wild animal that she sees. They don¢t get tied up at night so in case a bear comes into camp they are not trapped. Cade is black and is 9 years old. Dylan is a golden retriever and is 2 years old. Dylan also copies everything Cade does. They both wear doggy backpacks and it is really cute when she stops for a break. They both lay down to rest and they usually roll over on their backs which is where the cute part comes in because with their packs on, they can¢t roll themselves back over. At dinner, if there are any leftovers in camp they go to them.