Date: 2017-06-28
From: Tentsite mile 691.5

To: Tentsite at 715.3
Miles today: 23.8

6/28/17 Day 44 - 23.8 milesTentsite mile 691.5 to tentsite at 715.3Today was going to be good no matter what. I was heading into Daleville tomorrow so let it rain, hail, whatever. I can deal with almost anything for a day. As it turns out, today was a perfect hiking day and all that punishing trail from the day earlier must've been payment for today. The only concern I had was cutting down the miles I'll have to hike tomorrow to get into town.I was on the trail by 7:30 and first up I met Snickers and Old School from Ohio, Alaska, and most recently in Florida. They're trying to avoid a hot FL summer by hiking the trail- geniuses.I was heading to Dragons Tooth at mile 700.1. It's a huge jagged slab of rock that points straight up out of the cliff. But just before I got there, I passed the 700 mile mark!! I didn't see any sign in the trail and I really didn't feel like making one. So I climbed to the top of Dragons Tooth. It was easy getting up there, the knees got a little shaky coming down though. I'm still on my 1st pair of shoes and the tread has worn completely off so I was a little extra careful coming down. I had my lunch at the trail junction and spoke with Snickers and Old School some more. They are an adventure couple. On my way down the trail, there was a couple (Moses & Becky from N VA) that had a bag full of Reese's cups- but just for thru-hikers. My 1st trail magic!! I was happy to help lighten her pack!! Just as the rocks were becoming a burden again, I crossed through some nice rolling cow pastures and got a little sun.  Another 1st today- I saw a bear at mile 708, about a half mile from a parking area. He came running out of the brush and headed up the trail in front of me. I stood there for a second and wondered if I could keep going without making him feel threatened so I started walking again. Just as I came around the corner, there he was. I went to get my phone to take a pic but he looked up at me so I just stayed still till he ran off again. As I came out to the area, there were a group of ladies who asked if there was anything close up the trail worth walking to and said Yea - if you'd like to see a bear, he's only half a mile up. I think they changed their mind. So they asked where I was headed and I told them Maine and I love the reaction of people who haven't heard of thru-hikers. It's awesome to see their expressions when I tell them I started in GA. It never gets old.  As we're chatting, it turns out they're from Bucks Co. PA. They were cool as hell and it turns out they were on their own adventure. Going to their friends wedding and touring some wineries.After that, it was on my way to McAfee Knob- the most photographed spot on the AT. It's a rock ledge that you can dangle your feet over. The views were incredible! The pictures just can't capture it. While I was up there, I met some people from Pitman, small world! I also crossed paths with Dragon and Camp again. I also made my dinner up there and ate with the best view ever. Lately, it seems that my best miles come after dinner so my plan was to walk till the sun went down. I got about 6 or 7 more miles in and set up on a ridge just as the sun went down. 12 miles and change to get to Daleville and a shower!!! My food bag is just about empty too so it worked out pretty well this time.