Date: 2019-03-16
From: Fullhardt Shelter

To: Daleville route 220
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

I might have gotten a couple of hours of sleep last night but I'm not even sure of that. The wind howled and branches were flying as the temperature plummeted from 61 to the mid 30's. I went to bed around 7 and watched the sun set and the lights come up from Daleville down below. It was quite peaceful despite the wind and I felt almost like I was spying on the city below. Did anyone even know I was on the top of this mountain watching the bustle below? The sound of the distant train whistle mixing with the rush of the wind. Twinkling lights. After 9 I made a trip to the privy. It seems I'm well hydrated now. Sometime after that I noticed a chill on my head and so I got up and feeling the significant change in the temperature I dawned my hat, neck warmer and puffy before crawling back into bed. The wind howled louder as the night progressed and the symphony of dry leaves being blown about in front of the shelter and sticks and branches falling from above onto the metal roof kept me forever alert and a good sleep never came. As the sun rose a little after 7am so did I. How I longed to sleep but I knew it would come better in town. With my mittens on and off while I packed up I squeezed a packet of peanut butter and 2 packets of jelly into my mouth and washed that down with a serving of trail mix. I skipped brushing my teeth because it was just too cold to have my mittens off. Sorry Mom! I headed out of camp at 8:15 after getting a liter from the sistern. It was cold and windy most of the 5 miles into town and though I stopped to take my gloves off I would put them back on just a few minutes later when the trail turned into the face of the wind again. I came upon a sign informing me that the next .6 mile of trail is on private property and at the time in the field to the left 6 deer stopped to study me. I stopped too and when I resumed moving 5 of them dashed away. A small doe stood and watched me for another moment before running off to catch up with the others. It was a fantastic hike into town and the sun warmed me up so I was able to shed my hat, neck warmer and mittens for the last mile or so. I saw 3 hikers within that last mile, all day hikers. I was so happy to see town!I strolled into the Super 8 motel and scored a room for 2 nights. I was too tired to think about how things will work over the next 2 days. River is coming up on the 17th after her last piece of TN and she has 6 miles between route 311 and 4 pines hostel to do. I've got 19.8 miles to get to the same spot and it includes Tinkers Cliffs and McAfee Knob. Big climbs. 3 months ago I could hike that in a day but right now I know it would push me too much. After chatting with Brian about it I agreed with his suggestion that I leave in the morning and hike about half of the miles, carry a lighter pack and stay at a shelter. Then complete the remaining miles the following day so that River and I both end up on route 311. In my room I showered, brushed my teeth (finally!) and ordered a pizza. I thought I was calling Pizza Hut but I was calling Domino's. I was so tired I didn't care. I just wanted someone to bring food. Within 30 minutes my pizza was delivered I was clean and my laundry was in the wash. After I ate the pizza and finished my laundry I walked down to the shopping plaza and picked up some water treatment drops at the outfitters and snacks and epsom salts at Kruger. I also bought some zzzquil. No more sleepless shelter nights for me!I napped briefly and got to talk to Kyle for a few minutes and update him on my journey. Then I ate a steak dinner at the Mexican restaurant next door before soaking my feet for a second time. I'm planning on a good solid sleep tonight.