Date: 2017-07-04
From: Wilbur Dam Road

To: Dennis Cove Road
Miles today: 13.0

Last night I fell asleep to the sound of rain drops on our tarp instead of the partying crowd of holiday campers. I was grateful for that. I think I went to sleep around 9 or 9:30. I slept better than the previous night because I opened the bottom of my sleeping bag so I could stick my feet out of it if they got too hot. I didn't wake up until 7. My mouth was dry so I drank some water. Everything was wet from the slow, soaking overnight rain. I ate breakfast sitting in the car and also sat there to apply Body Glide to my feet. We had purchased Starbucks "coffee drinks" to have with breakfast. I got the s'mores flavored one and Steven got white chocolate mocha. Honestly, I felt like I was drinking some strange Quick flavor. There was way too much milk and sugar for me! I was nervous about what it would do to my "delicate system" as Grandma calls it.We drove a mile down the road to the AT crossing at Dennis Cove Rd and started our hike. The first mile was relatively flat through rhododendrons next to a river. There were also a few places where the rock had been removed - like blown away - Count guessed for a train bed, so we walked through some short "canyons." Then we came to the stairs down to Laurel Falls. I counted over 300 stairs! What INSANE trail construction!!! Laurel Falls was spectacular. We continued on and even had to walk on what was basically a rock ledge right next to the river. I was glad I didn't have my big pack there.We met a local couple on the trail. We talked with them for a few minutes. Their daughter is going to Northeastern, so they were excited that we are from Massachusetts. And then we hiked up Pond Mountain. Before we'd even started hiking up, my glasses were fogging up from my hot face and the humidity. It became worse as I got hotter and sweatier. There is not much to say about Pond Mountain other than it was an unrelenting climb, though graded, so it wasn't completely miserable. I let Count walk ahead because I'm much slower - especially on the uphills. We took a break part way up where I finished my breakfast, and again at Pond Flats campsite.We had been hoping that there was a pond at the top of Pond Mountain. There wasn't. It was there that the overdose of milk suddenly hit me and I fled to the trees with trowel & toilet paper. We hiked down, down, down with no reward of any view from our up, up, up. We came out to a road and a car approached us. An older gentleman was in the passenger seat and he beamed at us. His son was driving. He asked us if the road (Shook Branch Rd?) was the AT. We told him it was. He was thrilled that he was right. He asked where we were from and he repeated "Massachusetts" as if it were a miracle that he met people from a far away land. It was kind of awesome. We stopped for lunch at Shook Branch Recreation Area which was crowded with holiday celebrators. People were swimming, tanning, kayaking, jet skiing and boating around. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. We walked around the edge of the lake accompanied by the sounds of motor boats, laughter, and shrieking children. We saw quite a bit of bear poop, but no bears.We came out to Watauga Dam. We walked across the dam and then up the road. Then up some more - about 500 feet of it. By this point I was thinking of how stupid the AT is sometimes. Going up and down with what appears to be NO POINT at all. There *may* be a point, but we couldn't discern it. Then we went back down and to the car. I stretched and ate a ton of Snyders Pretzel Bites (honey mustard) which are normally too salty to eat. Not today with the amount of sweating we did!!We drove back to camp, stopping at Dollar General on the way. We got "Red White and Blue Cakes" by Little Debbie. We had to celebrate the holiday somehow! We also bought sardines to have with dinner. Upon arrival at camp we went immediately to the creek. I managed to submerge myself into the cold running water. It was both shocking and divine. I hope the salt crust that covered my body washed away.Dinner was Ramen, peas, spinach, & sardines in hot sauce all mixed in one bowl. I was very full. After about an hour and a half later, Steven and I split a package of cakes. It was good.Tomorrow is a 21.4. I'm nervous because my legs are a bit sore and tired, but I know we can do it!I have failed to mention the beauty of Dennis Cove Camp at night. There are a ton of fireflies here and they make everything seem slightly magical. That is a nice reward after a day of hiking - no matter how many miles you've hiked. It's raining again.