Date: 2005-07-19
From: Blue Mountain Lakes Rd.

To: Culvers Gap, US 206
Miles today: 10.6

Started @ Blue Mountain Lakes Rd.Destination: Culvers Gap, US 206Miles today: 10.6Total Miles: 1307.4Stayed @ motelDay 130Well, we did not do as any miles on the trail as we had planned (13.6) but total miles equals more than that! First, we had to walk about a half mile out from the YMCA camp and then after we decided to stop short of the shelter and come into Branchville when we reached US 206 we had at least a 3 mile walk in mostly rain. Mike had a hard day--his feet were hurting and he had drank all his water and was drinking mine. He sweats so much!! Plus he was feelingweak and needed to eat more. My feet were also hurting and though I was not feeling bad I was hot and felt that I had probably not drank enough. So when we got to US 206, the restaurant where we had visions of eating a good meal was closed (on Tuesdays). We realized this before we got down off the mountain. And the place listed to get groceries near the trail was not seen by us. So we walked the 3 miles or whatever it is to the only motel in this direction. It is not much of one but it has hot water and clean sheets. On the way we stopped at the Jumboland Diner--a very nice place with very reaonable prices. And the people are friendly.Toto is having T-2 send his boots since his trailrunners have not been good on his feet on these rocks. He has no blisters but he has 1 hot spot on the bottom of one foot that is VERY tender. When he wore his boots in the beginning he had no problem with his feet.Last night before we turned in for the night we were sitting at the picnic table visiting with a hiker, John, that is out just for a few days. We found out that the squeaking noises from the upper corner of the shelter were from bats. One flew into the screen door while we were sitting outside. Soon we saw a bat flying all around us outside. Previously we saw dragonflies flying all around. Both are good for keeping down the mosquito population. Soon the fireflies were lighting up, the moon was rising over the mountain on the opposite side of the lake and the frogs in the pond and the trees were singing a chorus. Joining in was a whipoorwill but everything else was making so much noise I had a hard time distinguishing it. Very early this morning I heard it clearly while the frogs were quiet. Also, we saw 2 deer come fairly close to the shelters as they were grazing on grass or weeds nearby.Just as we were about to hike out we saw a beaver swimming toward the shore and when it reached it, down shore from us, we saw it nibbling on some kind of plant growing near the water. Also, the sun was a bright orange in the sky and it was reflecting in the pond. The nature we saw and heard at this place has been very enjoyable.Today we saw a flock of turkeys--momma, with a bunch of little ones. And we heard deer snorting nearby. I saw more orange salamanders on the trail today than I ever have.It only started raining on us as we got to US 206. The day was hot and humid with slippery sweating rocks. There were some views but they were pretty hazy.Tomorrow will most likely be another fairly short day so our feet are not overworked on the rocks. We hear there is a cold front coming to cool things off. We sure hope so.We got an e-mail from Hopeful Hiker saying he ate a half gallon of ice cream at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in 4 minutes and 40 seconds and claims to hold the record for eating it in the fastest time. A big thanks to all who have e-mailed and/or signed our guest book wishing me well after my spell of amnesia. It is comforting to know of others who have had something similar happen to them and that it was just one of those things that happens and no one seems to know exactly why it happens.Aside from our feet hurting we are doing great.