Date: 2014-07-23
From: Black Brook Campsite

To: Bemis Stream Campsite
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: broken clouds

A 2200' haul up Old Blue Mountain with not much to see due to the haze and humidity. They were calling for a cold front to pound through causing a whole bunch of rain possible in the afternoon. But, you never know. Could miss me altogether. Right......Up early, and feeling good I was ready to tackle Old Blue. I seemed to be hiking quite easily today, but the humidity was almost unbearable, sweating like a pig. I knew though that after Old Blue the trail would simmer down a bit for several miles and I would be able to get in a good mileage day, which I haven't done in a long while. For most of the day I was leap-frogging Stretch, Thin Mint, DaVinci, and Mary Poppins, who I haven't seen since Manchester Center, Vermont. DaVinci and Thin Mint are very strong and fast hikers and can pound out the miles if needed.I was gunning for Sabbath Day Shelter which had a swimming hole that was popular and would be nice after a hot and humid day. It would have been very possible if it wasn't for the approaching storm. Somehow as the storm was brewing Stretch and I were in front of the rest and hiking fast towards Bemis Stream which has a campground. We were debating weather to keep hiking or just stop and set up the tents for cover even if it was just for an hour till the storm passed. By the time we got to the bottom there was no doubt this storm was not going to miss us, and we were about to get pounded. Stretch and I hurriedly starting pitching tents when the thunder started getting louder and sprinkles were falling. Mary Poppins came in behind us a few minutes later and did the same. I was set up and heading to the creek for water when it started to pour. DaVinci and Thin Mint ran to the site and frantically unfortunately setting up there gear in he pouring rain. I ran back into my tent with a liter of creek water and crawled in as the bottom fell from the sky. I don't know how we managed but all 5 of us were in our tents by 3pm.Hoping that the rain would be quick and we could hike on, it wasn't too long afterwards when I realized that I pitched my tent in a hole. Even though the rain did not come in, I was laying under a pool like a waterbed. I had the 1st pick of the whole site and I choose a hole. Real smart. After 3 hours of constant downpour it was pretty much evident that this was our final destination for the day. I couldn't really cook anything so I ended up eating most of my snacks including a whole package of pepperoni. It's nice to eat all of that knowing I'm not going to gain any weight whatsoever. It did slow down a bit by 7 and I found a high spot to move to. I took all the heavy stuff out of the tent and moved the entire thing, rain fly and all to the new, drier spot. A world of difference. My new "Sham-wow" came in handy as I dried everything up and blew up my failing mattress for bed. I sat up in the tent till about 11, and could not fall asleep and the snores coming form the rest of the tents told me I was the only one up. Not the biggest fan of a 15 hour tent session, but sometimes you just have to.SOTD, Surf City, -Jan and Dean "2 girls for every boy"