Date: 2007-05-13
From: Laurel Fork, TN

To: Dennis Cove Rd., TN
Miles today: 11.4

Last nite was a bit cool. I ended up ading my fleece pants and Montbell Jacket,but was fine after that. Laurel Fork is a river in a low spot, so cold airsettles there @ nite. It was pretty damp too. I had to get up to water theleaves and I was swarmed by a million moths that were attracted to my headlamp! LOLIt was 50 degrees in my hammock when I woke @ 6:08 a.m. (don't ask me why soearly). It was wonderful sleeping with the sound of rushing water all nite. I was hiking by 7:56 a.m. and we were headed to Kincora Hostel, owned by theinfamous Bob Peoples. There were a few climbs, but I found myself so lost in mythoughts, I just made my way up the mountains with very few breathing breaks. Progress has been made physically. I know I would not have been able to get upthose mountains without stopping back in Georgia.It was mostly rhodadundren tunnels and thick trees, but there was one spot Icame down a hill and it suddenly opened up to a beautiful green field. I loveit when it does that.There were also several pretty stream crossings, but all in all, there was notone major thing that stood out except that we hit 400 miles today!So, Persistent told me it was my turn to start the toast, and it was easy forme. I said, "I want to toast to my mom on Mother's Day, without her I obviouslywouldn't be here to take this journey." I ate a Reese's and that was that. Itwas a gorgeous day, and I thought about my mom a lot today. Happy Mother's Daymom, I love you!The butterflies teased me all day. They'd land right in front of me, I'd get mycamera out, then it would fly away! LOLThere was one wildlife highlite of my day. I was about to sit down on a mossyrock when this TINY litle toad hopped up the rock. She was so adorable, and Itook some great pics just inches away from her! She was only about 1" long, butshe looks huge in my pics because I got so close to her.I always feel humbled ad honored when any animal out here allows me to get closeto it like that. I know it was "only" a toad, but she didn't have to let me dothat either.We got to Kincora Hostel @ 3:00 p.m. There were a few people there, but itlooked like there was only 1 bunk left. Persistent decided to tent, and Ireally preferred to hang, so I started looking for a place. Up by the hostel,there were pretty much no good places. All the trees were too close or theravines were not cleared out enough. I walked down towards the road, and thereis a gravel parking lot by the woods. I found a spot down there. It's totallyaway from everything, but that's fine with me because I won't be kept up withhostel noises.I joked with some people about how hostels and other trail places that advertise"camp sites" have not yet learned to include hangers, so we're like the redheaded step-children! LOL It's all good, makes me think about opening a hostelgeared for hangers! LOLThis place is pretty cool. I took a shower, did my laundry, and at 6:00 p.m.,Bob shuttled about 9 of us into town so we could eat and resupply.Oh, there are clean clothes here that we can wear while our laundry is going. Iended up in my Frogg Togg pants and this silver sleeveless shirt that everyonethought made me look like a gangsta! LOLWe went to Arby's, and I had the Giant Roast beef combo, plus another roast beefsandwhich, 2 cookies, and a Jamocha shake, 2 cups of Dr. Pepper. Starving Iwas! LOLThen it was off to the little (not so well equipped) supermarket. God, I'meating more crap this leg than ever. No dehydrated fruit, no beef jerkey, noprotein bars. BOO HOO LOLI'm eating Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies and sunflower seeds for breakfast,tortillas with pepperoni and string cheese for lunch (this is normal though),and I'm trying some new pasta stuff for dinner (but it is always pasta). Thispast week, I had some Spree candies, and those were nice, so I got some Runtsand jawbreakers to keep my brain distracted! LOLOh, the best thing is that Persistent bought me some Bling to go with my gangstaoutfit! LOL She cared enough to buy me a gold plastic dollar sign necklace fromthe 50 cent toy machine @ the grocery store! I am so honored! LOL Wait tillyou see pics...hilarious!We are here with great people again, Fuzzy Monkey, Josh & Sara, Yellow Snowman &Hiccup, Flax Seed, and a bunch more I don't know. We are planning on heading out in the morning, which will be the first time weresupply and not take a zero. I told Persistent I felt like something haschanged since Erwin.I have no desire to be in town, in motels, in hostels, or anything. Where Iused to be in a rush to get into town to clean up and relax, I now feel theopposite. Perhaps it has just taken 400 miles to trail-harden me, but it wouldall be different if it was snowing though! LOLOnly annoying thing going on is the nagging pain in my left foot again. I havea bad feeling I'm just going to have to learn to deal with it. Kinda sucks, butI know things could always be worse, so I'll do my best to accept the pain andkeep putting one foot in front of the other. I didn't figure I'd make itthrough this journey without at least a minor injury, so I'll be mindful of itand do what I can to manage it. Luckily, after tomorrow's first big climb, theterrain looks almost completely flat, so I can try to take it easy a bit. It is way late, and I've gotta find my hammock down the driveway! Sitting undera light on the porch, it is 58 degrees, but it is definitely cooler than tht. I'm in fleece and down jacket again. Well, goodnite all.~Certain