Date: 2018-06-03
From: VA Rt 623

To: U.S. Rt 42
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: scattered clouds

We were up by a little past 6 o¢clock this morning. As I shuffled across the floor to the bathroom I could already smell bacon coming up from the kitchen below. Our host Mack is just wonderful! He cooked bacon and sausage, fresh from the coop scrambled eggs, hash browns, and toast. We ate and drank coffee until our bellies were happy. Then he gave us toast to make bacon and egg sandwiches. We took those with on our hike today. Our bellies were happy again at lunch time! Mack is a thru-hiker himself. He understands us. He says he¢s almost 75 years old. I¢d like to know who told him that, because he¢s as young as me in every way.  After breakfast he shuttled us north about 18 miles as the crow flies. In mountain miles I couldn¢t begin to guess. I think it was about a 45 minutes drive.  He dropped us off to begin our southbound slack packing flip-flop. Today will be the biggest miles any of us have hiked in one day so far.  I took the rear this morning. It always takes me about an hour to really get going. We started out UP.  Yesterday it sprinkled only, and this morning the skies were clear. Even though there were muddy places, this is the most dry the trail has been for over a week. I was enjoying this whole new concept of dry hiking when I haphazardly stepped on an angled rock that was still wet. I can¢t believe it happened again! Yes, down went McGinney. I wasn¢t hurt at all, but decided I should stick closer to my tramily. The only problem with that idea was a snake. It was a striped green and yellow snake. I¢m pretty sure he was non venomous, and he was a little guy. It soon became clear to me that he had no intention of moving off the trail. I was on a ridge so I really couldn¢t go up or down to get around him. I decided to use my trekking pole and scoot him along. He wasn¢t having it! Stubborn little snake! After about 5 minutes he slowly moved himself under a rock and I was able to get past.  I finally reached the others just as we were about to start our big UP to Chestnut Knob Shelter at 4407ft elevation. The view up there was breathtaking. But before we started up I spied a very large black snake on the side of the trail. Hugs had walked right past her. She was a beautiful snake! We took a few minutes to watch her slowly make her way into the woods away from the trail. We were planning to eat our bacon and egg sandwiches at the shelter, but we decided to find a shade tree instead. Some of the kids on the trail seem to think they¢re the only ones here. They smoke inside the shelters which is a big no-no. None of us want to eat lunch while smelling and breathing smoke.  Before long we came upon a pond with a piped spring water source. Myself and Big Kahuna sat down to eat our sandwiches. Hugs had received a happy birthday phone call from her son so she walked on and would eat later. It¢s rare that we are able to get a phone call in the mountains, so I¢m really happy it happened on her special day.  Big Kahuna finished eating first. Before he hit the trail he pointed out a beautiful Tulip Tree in full bloom. In my mind I planned to get a picture when I was done eating, but instead I went to the spring and refilled my water supply. About a half mile later I realized I had not taken the picture. One more photograph in my mind.  By now I was a good 20 minutes behind Big Kahuna and probably 40 minutes behind Hugs. I was behind all dog gone day!  At first I meandered slowly. The Mountain Laurel is in full bloom everywhere. I couldn¢t get enough of the fragrance. So many times I stopped just to admire the beauty of all the white flowers on a mountain side. Sometimes while hiking a ridge it felt like I was in a tunnel of Mountain Laurel. This was my very most favorite flower day!  Suddenly I realized I was way way behind. Our shuttle was scheduled for a 6pm pick up. I could not be late. Thankfully the terrain was nice and I could jog the ridges. I jogged for 20 minutes! Finally I caught up to both of them. Hugs had stopped to eat her bacon and egg sandwich. That was my saving grace.  I stuck with my tramily until about 5pm. That¢s when the thunder started getting close. Only a couple more miles to go so I jogged a little again. I arrived at our pick up site a few minutes early, but Mack was already there. Back at the hostel we showered while Mack prepared dinner. Tonight¢s dinner was hot dogs and French fries, with Mack¢s ¢imported sweet tea¢! (Imported from Walmart). For dessert he had baked Hugs a birthday cake. It was a delicious pound cake! He also made homemade ice cream! I thought I had died and gone to heaven! We love this hostel! We love Mack! Remember Appalacian Dreamer Hostel. It doesn¢t get any better than this.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?