Date: 2019-06-29
From: Ironmasters Mansion Hotel

To: Stealth Site at Center Point Knob 1120.4
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I ate breakfast at Ironmasters Mansion Hostel which consisted of scrambled eggs, two waffles, and half a bagel. That¢s what you were served. I was up early so I took it upon myself to get the coffee going. A few hikers left very early, most hikers sat in the common area eating and chatting. I was talking to Juke Box and I told him he got The Four Seasons song ¢Oh What a Night¢ stuck in my head, which is OK I love that song. Next thing I know he¢s singing it and every one joins in?.Of the hikers left I got out of there first at 740.The first mile was flat and then there was a 3 mile slight uphill. I was walking really fast. I told myself to slow down but I kept going. It was warm but not hot. At about 7 miles I came to a stream and it was about 2.5 feet deep in a spot. I thought about taking a dip but I dipped my head in instead because I was stopping at a convenient store in about a mile and a half. I had planned to stop there for lunch and a small resupply. The store was very nice, I had a country sub and a large Gatorade. I then bought my resupply and an ice cream. Back to the trail. I slowed down some because it was as though someone flipped a switch. It got really hot, still, and humid. I saw a dad and daughter I¢d been leapfrogging all day and they told me of a nice place to take a break further up the trail. They had stopped for a quick snack. I made it to the footbridge and took off my pack and shirt. I was splashing myself in the creek. I heard an alert on my phone. There was a severe thunderstorm watch for the area. I confirmed the counties with the dad as he and his daughter had caught up, and they live in the area. We both looked at the radar. It was four miles to the next shelter. We probably wouldn¢t make it but we were going to try. I took off fast and there was a good uphill. I burned myself out on the uphill. I had accepted I was going to get caught in the storm, as it had turned from a watch to a warning.I came across a lady walking the other direction and I warned her of the oncoming storm. She said it¢s not going to rain and inferred she is connected to god or a higher power and she knew. I have mental illness in my family and there are varying degrees so i¢m going to go on a side bar. I will talk to mentally ill people to a point. This woman said it¢s not going to rain. Yet, she¢s carrying an umbrella and has a raincoat with her. I showed her the radar and her story changed. Now she¢s not worried about rain. I said neither am I it¢s the wind and lightning I¢m worried about. She said, who said anything about lightning? I said, do you hear that thunder? That means there is lightning. She started arguing with me saying you can have thunder without lightning. I was like, time to go, see ya, and be safe! I was on a non-exposed ridge line and I wanted to get to a lower elevation. I did as the front arrived. I was stuck in the middle of the woods and the trees were dancing back and forth and small branches were falling all around me. I found a nice sturdy tree to stand up wind from, hoping it¢d protect me. I put my bag cover on and after the initial winds went by and I continued. Then the rain started. I found a large rock formation/overhang and I hid under there until the bulk of the rain and lightning passed. I made it to the shelter and the dad and daughter were there. They decided to stay there for the night. I filled up with water and continued another mile. I found a nice stealth spot. I hung a clothes line and dried my wet things a little. I ate and am planning on being to sleep early. Wildlife update: squirrels.