Date: 2017-05-17
From: Hot Springs, NC

To:  Log Cabin Drive
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

We were so relieved to hike a shorter day today that we underestimated how difficult the hike would be.  We decided to start at 7.  Terri, Bill, Arlene, and I were about ready to leave when we decided it was worth walking the few blocks back into town to get coffee.  Arlene and I picked up the coffee, and we finally set out around 7:30.  The beginning of the hike was a substantial climb out of Hot Springs with lovely views of the French Broad River.  I drank my coffee as I went, and it definitely helped with the climb.  About 5 miles in, the trail followed a gravel road briefly.  When we got to a fence post we saw that someone had picked up a molted rattlesnake skin and hung it from the post, weighted down by rocks (see photo).  We looked around for the snake but didn't see it.  (Other hikers behind us told us later that they did see the snake sunning itself in the road.)The rest of the hike was a series of ups and downs, most of them not steep or long.  Even so, it seemed like a long day.  It's finally turned warm, and we stopped at lots of water sources to get and drink water.  Terri, Lizzie, and I hiked together, with Terri leading most of the time.  We didn't want to hurry because we have another long hike tomorrow (19.2 miles).  Terri is also being very careful with her hurt knee, which she said was less painful today.  At one place we stopped at a small pond created by a dam.  There were lots of bullfrogs vocalizing, and we saw fish swimming around.  Lizzie sacrificed one slice of her bread for her and Terri to throw to the fish.  I sat on a nearby bench and rested.  Suddenly I felt a sharp stinging sensation on my left shin.  I looked down and saw a horsefly, which I chased off.  After we resumed hiking I saw blood rolling down my leg.  The horsefly had bitten me.  What a wound!  I remember as a child at Sebec Lake being very afraid of horseflies, but this is the first time I've actually been bitten.  The fly sliced a three-sided shape about the size and shape of an uncrimped staple into my leg!   When we stopped for lunch I cleaned it up and put antibiotic ointment and a bandaid on it.  We again were hiking through light woods not yet fully leafed out.  My best wildflower sighting of the day was some blue-eyed grass (see photo).  This flower used to be on the cover of the Audubon wildflower guide, and I've hardly ever seen it. We continue to see flowers that I don't know and can't look up because of lack of internet.  The best-smelling flower of the day was cow parsnip, which was just starting to bloom.  We walked through some very fragrant places today. We also heard several strange birds that I don't remember ever hearing before. Often at the end of the day we have a downhill to our camping spot and come through some very  pretty woods.  Today was another of those days, but we found it hard to appreciate because we were so worn out from the hike.  Even though the hike was not overly hard, we've hiked 289.7 miles in the last 17 days, or 17 miles a day, without a break and are getting tired.  This weekend we're going to Trail Days in Damascus, VA.  Trail Days is an annual festival celebrating the trail and hikers.  Many hikers use the event as a reunion.  Our group will have two days off from hiking.  We're all looking forward to this with great anticipation. Today for the first time in several days I got cell service strong enough to make several phone calls -- one to my sister Diane and one to my friend Susan.  And I also was able to check my email.  I'm so grateful for all the encouraging messages people sent me in response to my recent text about feeling isolated and lonely.  Thanks so much to Cassie, Dennis, and my bestie/sister Diane and all the others who have sent messages of encouragement when I needed them.