Date: 2018-05-10
From: Big Bald Road

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 6.6

I woke up this morning aching all over. My body is letting me know I need a zero. I chose to take it easy today. Only 6.6 miles and at a slothier speed. My 4 legged partner went with me.  There was a lot going on this morning. For starters, we had given Biscuit a ride on Tuesday and she accidentally left her Sawyer Squeeze in our SUV. She¢s back on the trail today, and needs her Sawyer to filter water. She was my primary concern. Through Papa Big Swig we were planning to meet at Big Bald Mountain this morning.  That leads to problem number two. The road to Big Bald is on guarded private property. The HOA is not hiker friendly. We tried a path that would only give me 4 extra miles to walk, but it was gated and padlocked. Ugh!In our frenzy of driving back and forth we saw a hiker coming down into Sam¢s Gap. He didn¢t cross over to head back up but rather started hiking down the road. We pulled over to see what¢s going on. Turns out he¢s a thru-hiker catching a flight home for the weekend out of Asheville. So Medicine Man(a pharmacist) hopped in. But before anybody was going to Asheville I had to get to Big Bald and start hiking. It was 10:30 already and I hadn¢t taken a step.  I believe God puts people in our lives just when we need them. Medicine Man had the solution to our problem! He knew of a hostel that provides a shuttle service to Big Bald. I called, and soon Fred from Mother Marion¢s Hostel was picking me and Seylor up.  Turns out he lives on Big Bald and he shuttles us through because he can!  I was so grateful!!At last I was at the north side base of Big Bald. This is exactly where I had ended yesterday¢s hike.  Now to find Biscuit. There is great cellular service there so I sent her a text. Before she could respond it started to sprinkle. I sent another text that it was sprinkling, and I was hiking to Big Bald Mountain Shelter about a mile away. She responded ¢I¢m at Big Bald Mountain Shelter¢! Perfect! In no time Seylor and I were there. The case of the misplaced Sawyer Squeeze resolved! Just as we got there it started raining a little heavier. Not too hard, but enough to stay sheltered for a bit. I took a photo there. Biscuit is sitting in the back right. She¢s very hard to see, but she¢s there.  Also at the shelter was Dal380. He¢s a Vietnam Veteran hiking in honor of the 380 men who did not return home from his unit. In further conversation I learned he¢s also a retired pediatrician. There we were a doctor and a nurse talking shop. He¢s very nice, I¢m glad the trail crossed our paths.  Seylor and I were soon on our way. I saw there was a hand written note on the marker to the shelter we had just left. It was letting us know a bear had taken a backpack ¢for a ride¢ last night. He said he got it back though, and all is well. I hope the folks who camp there tonight see the note.  There was lots of ridge hiking again today. At one point the entire side of the mountain going up was covered in flowers. Lots and lots of white flowers with a few purple ones scattered in. It was like hiking 100 yards of aromatherapy. So pleasant.  I did enjoy the fragrances, but off in the distance I could hear thunder. I also saw dark clouds coming. I had 4 miles left to hike to civilization.  Seylor is a good dog. She¢s a great hiker, but bravery is not her strong suit.  The closer the thunder came, the bigger the whites of her eyes got. She was petrified.  I hiked at high speed sloth pace, but I knew I was not going to beat that storm to the gap. So I grabbed rain gear out of my backpack and prepared myself for the inevitable. Seylor was not as ready. As soon the rain hit and the thunder cracked overhead she took off like a bolt of lightning down that path. When she remembered me, she turned back to get me. She kept looking at me with fear in her eyes. If she could talk I¢m pretty sure she was saying ¢Whats wrong with you mom?!? Get off the trail!!!¢  Thankfully it was a quick storm that passed in about 5 minutes. Seylor started trying to rid the world of varmints again and we hiked on. The air was cool now which was nice, but the path was muddy which wasn¢t nice. I was so careful on those steep downs. SO careful!! Even still, down went McGinney. Muddy shorts again! I¢ve stopped counting my falls. Next thing you know, there was Papa Big Swig walking towards us with our other 4 legged girl Gypsy Rose. They hiked in about a half mile to meet us. We all walked out together.  Papa Big Swig was pleased to announce that his trip to Ashville was a success. He dropped Medicine Man off at the airport without a hitch, then he drove straight to REI. He was checking to see if they could do anything about my ripped sleeping bag. We weren¢t getting too far with Big Agnes. I can¢t believe it, but REI exchanged it for a new one completely free of charge! I have nothing but respect for that business!  Aching body or not, my trail runners will be back on tomorrow.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?