Date: 2013-06-09
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Jennings Creek tenting
Miles today: 17.0

Day 80I must be one of the first ones out as I ran into a lot of spider webs. My back hurt some so I didn't go as fast. I stopped at the next shelter sign for lunch. I crossed the Blue ridge Parkway and the overlook was really nothing I was pretty worn out and tired but Redup and Shabby were talking about how great they felt and how the last several miles were easy. It was a short steep up and Shabby tried to talk to me. I wanted to be friendly and converse but I can't talk going uphill. I was really struggling when I caught back up to Redup and Shabby. She didn't think she was going to go past the next shelter. I tried to convince her to continue but she didn't want to. We walked maybe 5 mins more and stumbled onto trail magic. There was a cooler full of ice beer and grapes. Coke and sprite were next to it. I took some grapes and put a sprite in the cooler. The large group was gathered on a log next to the road. Some of them had already had 3 beers. I ate my grapes and enjoyed my sprite in the heat. I stayed there probably 30 min before moving on. I wanted to get the Jennings Creek in time to swim. I headed up, straight up in the heat of the day. The trees were thinning out so I was in the sun. My back hurt really bad and I was incredibly flustered at the mtn. Smoke, Ann and Delaney dog passed me, Redup caught up and we all sort of hiked together. I know I do much better when I hike with others. I'd catch up to them going down they left me going uphill. I was in tears and I was trying to enjoy the scenery. The mtn had been burnt and was covered in new growth. We finally got to the shelter and I ate even though I wasn't that hungry. I tried stretching my back to make the pain go away but it didn't budge. We lingered and slowly started the next 3 miles to the creek. We were all excited to jump in the creek so it made the heat a little more bearable. We got to the creek and there were tents and people everywhere. We thought we were ahead of the large group but they had yellow blazed. They had lots of beer so they must 've gone to town too. There wasn't much area at all the set up a tent. Day hikers had set up a table and coolers and beer having a fire. Maybe when they leave we can have their flat spots. Rather than worry about our unknown tent sites, we decided to jump in the river. Smoke got all the way in first as us girls daintily stuck our toes in. We squealed as it was colder than cold! I took my shirt off because I didn't want to get it wet and mustered up the courage to walk right in. Ohh! I got to my waist and it felt good but so cold!! i knew I had to go all the way in, so I decided to sit back instead of walking deeper. I got up to my neck before I got the chills and ran out. I immediately went back in, this time to dunk my head and hair back. Redup sat in the rapids letting the water massage her. Ann and I joined her, letting the cold water soothe our sore muscles. It was chilly and a bit uncomfortable on the uneven bumpy rocks but I knew it was good for my back. I got out and tried to dry off. I felt weird walking around in my bra but I remembered it covers more than my bikini top so I'm OK. Smoke and An set u their tent on the sand while I choose a small not so flat spot between hammocks and poison ivy. Redup searched for non poison ivy trees but couldn't find a good spot so I told her that I do have a 2 person tent and she's welcome to sleep in my tent. She doesn't have a sleeping pad just an under quilt but that would have to do. I changed into dry clothes and hung my wet stuff up to dry. It was getting cloudy and I thought I heard thunder. I quickly cooked dinner and got in bed. The hikers next to us were drinking and about to start a fire. As son as they got the fire going the thunder rolled and the rain came down. They yelped as they realized there tarps were not up. I was glad the rain came when it did because I didn't want to be kept awake by them carrying on. Hopefully the rain would be gone by morning. I slept fitfully hoping that I didn't wake Redup. This was her first time sleeping in a tent she had always used a hammock. I woke up and it was foggy and drippy but no rain. My bra shorts and underwear were still soaked from swimming but I put them on anyway. I cooked oatmeal and hot choc under drippy leaves. As I began to pack up my tent it began to rain. Argh! this was not good. My back hurt already and I wasn't even hiking yet. I tried to pack quickly but the rain slowed me down. I left camp just after 7:30. A lot of tents were up with no signs of movement.