Date: 2007-06-26
From: Pkwy mile 51

To: Cold Mtn
Miles today: 16.0

I finally met up with Tennis again. He stayed at The Dutch Haus last night withhis daughter and grandaughter. I arrived there this morning looking for ashuttle back to the trail. It was nice to get a chance to meet his familybefore they got off the trail. They were kind enough to shuttle me back towhere I needed to be. Thanks Woodstock, Snoopy, and Tennis! It feels strange to be hiking alone again. I had hiked with Tennis for the weekor so before getting off for Francie's B'day, and then Becky once I came back tothe trail. I guess it is time for me to buckle down and start cranking out themiles. I crossed a long suspension bridge, that had a lot of bounce to it as youwalked. I actually walked heavy to make it bounce a little more, it was neat.Well, that is, until I reached the other side. I saw a note someone left on thebridge "BEES!!! Bee hive located under left side of railing. We tip toed accross and did not have a problem. Note posted on south side of bridge said beeswere stinging   GOOD LUCK, Mayo" I obviously missed the note on thesouth side!! I   stepped back and looked up at the railing, and sure enoughthere were bees every where. I was very lucky! I took a quick picture (from adistance) and got out of there. I am sitting by a stream eating my lunch (peanut butter on rice cakes toppedwith raisins). It is really hot today, so I might put my crocks on and walk in.With all the rain the last 2 nights the water is really flowing. It is so hot Imight just lie down in it. I walked in up to my ankles but it was too cold for me. I am a little wimpywhen it comes to cold water. As I was packing up to leave my break spot,Preacher, (a hiker I just met for the first time today) came down to the waterfor a break. He was hoping to swim but the water was pretty shallow. The trailwraps around the reservoir but doesn't really drop down close enough to thewater until it ends at the stream. We chatted for a bit and then moved on. I came up to the foot bridge over Brown Creek and ran into Toodles, Caboosy,Blue, and two other hikers I have briefly seen before. They had stopped to swimunder the waterfall. Preacher arrived and decided to jump in, I hesitated. Ifinally took everything out of my pockets and headed down to the water, clothesand all(I figured they could use a wash as well). I walked in slowly and thenturned around to get out, I had decided the water was too cold for totalsubmersion. All the other hikers were yelling at me "just do it, jump in,you"ll get use to it" PEER PRESSURE!! I went under, bald head andall, and came up with a howl. It was a shock to the system, but it felt goodafter the first plunge. I was glad I let them talk me into it. I took my dinner break at Brown Mtn Shelter, where I talked to a couple of guysfrom Dayton, Ohio. We got talking about Marions pizza, and instantly I had acraving for Marions. That is the worst kind of craving... one you cant doanything about!! No pizza I can get in any town visit will satisfy a cravingfor Marions. That is the second time that craving has popped up. Can youovernight mail pizza??? The storm is moving in and I have several more miles to go tonight. I am tryingto make it to Fish Hatchery Road by noon tomorrow. The Dutch Haus picks uphikers at the trailhead and takes them back to their place for a free lunch.That is worth hiking in the rain tonight!!!