Date: 2003-05-11
From: Watuaga Dam Rd.

To: Dennis Cove Rd.
Miles today: 11.5

start Watuaga Dam Roaddestination Dennis Cove RdAgain,the smells of coffee and fresh muffins woke me up.I am amazed at how quickly I can adjust to my surroundings.We are eating out on the deck,with a fantastic view of the mountains for our backdrop.The ridge to our left is the Appalacian Trail that we will be on in a few days.This morning's breakfast is pear crepes,with real maple syrup.fresh squeezed orange juice,muffins, bacon and a grand fruit salad.Just what I need to get me over the mountains and through the day.We tell the other guests goodbye,they are moving on this morning.They both seem so very tired and uptight.They could probably benefit from a month off from work.I am so thankful that Jerry loves to play and we play hard sometimes.But we also,well he does anyway,work hard.Vikki follows us to Dennis Cove,where we leave our truck.She then shuttles us over to the dam,where we get out and head south on the trail.I feel so light without my pack.Hiking is a breeze this way.Carrying only water,snakes and sandwiches for lunch.The weather has turned out beautiful,a perfect day to hike. This morning when I woke up,it was overcast,and severe thunderstorm warnings were out until noon.The rain had come down in sheets forcing us inside during breakfast. Jerry is carrying all the weight in the day pack,and before a couple of miles,his feet are screaming.The boots he is wearing seem to be okay,but he has not hiked very many miles on them.It takes us 7 hours to hike 11.5 miles.We just mosied along,taking in the scenery.At one point a couple came by.They may have been in their late 20's or so.They had parked their car up in the parking lot and was walking down the trail.As they passed us,the man stopped and asked"Just how far back in there does this trail go?"Jerry and I look at each other for a minute,thinking this guy was pulling our leg.I pointed to a white blaze on a tree just to his side.I said "See that blaze?:If you were to follow it ,you would end up in Maine."then I pointed the other way way,and told him that way would lead him to north georgia.He did not even realize that he was on the famed AT trail.He and his wife both looked at us like we were trying to pull one over on them.We tried to explain to them that we we!re indeed serious,but they were not buying our story. Back at the Inn supper was grilled steak,baked potatoes,a chinese dish that tasted like nothing I had ever had before,and don't want to have again.This was followed by a heart shaped cake wishing me a happy mothers day. I did try to call my kids to talk to them.I got two out of the four of them.I hope to have suprizes in the post office in Damascus for Mother's Day! I fell into the whirlpool tub one more time before crawling into bed for the night.Of course an hour massage helped get me ready for bed.I just rolled off of the table and into the bed.In fact Jerry had to wake me up to get into bed. I feel some better today.My feet really do hurt,but I am hoping the new boots and the medication Jerry brought me will help me.We shall see. Jerry has a terrible blister on the bottom of his foot and both of his feet are hurting really badly.I hope he can figure out something this week to help him make some miles. bumpkintotal miles 11.5