Date: 2007-07-27
From: Blue Mtn. Lakes Road

To: Culvers Gap
Miles today: 10.6

July 27, 1,300 Miles!We were supposed to leave for the trail today fairly early and hike 19 miles. Melk's aunt, Tomaso, was dropping us off and all would be well.However, in true Team Average form, not everyone woke up on time and we didn't leave until around 9:30 a.m. We had to convert the day to a ten mile day because Young Eagle's parents were picking us up in the evening.So, we got to the trail and started walking. The next ten miles turned into some of the most trying miles we've seen lately. They were rocky and much like a roller coaster all day. Not to mention the humidity was high and it was quite hot out. It seemed like a repeat of PA. But, three miles into the hike, we hit the 1,300 mile mark and we stopped there for lunch. Wahoo!The rest of the day was spent fighting for the miles. We did have some great views though. At one point, I was on top of one of the hills and it totally felt like I was in the countryside in Italy. I'm not sure why but it really felt like that and later, when I told Young Eagle, he said he thought the same thing.The last three miles were exhausting but somehow were completed. I finished around 5 p.m. and Ronin, Youngle and I waited for Melk for a few minutes. Young Eagle was growing impatient since his parents were close so we ended up leaving a note for Melk and headng to Gyp's Tavern.Youngle's parents met us there and drove us to our lodging for the night. We had dinner at the Sussex Inn and called it a night. I still have not resupplied - here's hoping I don't starve.Exhausted. Oh, I saw a bear today!- Sound of the AC in the room.Post Trail Thoughts:I wouldn't call this the best day in Team Average history. The day started with me annoyed and ended with Young Eagle being annoyed with Melk rounding it out in between. I grew to really hate sitting around waiting to hike. We had set a time the night before so Young Eagle and I were up and ready to go. If I recall correctly, Melk and Ronin were dead to the world at that point. What usually happened during times like these was I would get annoyed because I could've slept in longer and my dread for the day ahead would grow. The longer I had to sit and stew about the miles, the more I didn't want to hike..and the more tired I became. It was an evil pattern.We made it out of town and all grew pretty annoyed with the terrain. For some reason, it felt like the hardest day ever. Melk, Young Eagle and I stopped at one point while Melk went to the bathroom. Young Eagle taunted her as she did her business because we could sort of see her in the distance...When Ronin, Young Eagle, and I made it to the road crossing, we waited for Melk a bit. Young Eagle decided he didn't want to wait anymore since his parents were in town so we left a note for Melk and headed onward. Melk was not happy with us for leaving.Young Eagle was annoyed that he had asked his parents to come on such a random day when it turned out to be really poor logistics.It really was a day best forgotten - but for the great views. And the jokes that ensued later that evening as Young Eagle's parents drove Melk and I to the hotel and argued with the GPS device the whole way there.