Date: 2007-05-02
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter, NC

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, last nite was my first nite sleeping without my sleeping pad in myhammock, and it was wonderful! Added my knit cap in the middle of the nite for aslight chill, but other than that, I had a great nite's sleep. The temp was 56degrees when I woke up @ my normal bird chirping 7:15 a.m. I had my tarppitched out really wide and high too, so plenty of air was circulating at nite. Pretty stoked I'm in the comfort zone again.So, as I said I would, I got up, put my hiking shoes on and walked to the privy(which is a ways from where we are camping). As feared, my arch is still prettysore. Doesn't hurt as much in my camp shoes, but that is because they provideno arch support, so there's nothing pushing against it when I walk.Persistent asked what I thought, and I gave a grimace look, so she knew we werestaying put. She said she felt like her foot could use some rest too. As wewere discussing this Bear Killer, who's wife is a nurse, and he is a respiratorytherapist, chimed in and said he'd do the same thing. What's hilarious is aftera few hours, we looked up the hill and saw he DID decide to zero w\his sonScout! LOL They are section hikers, and man, what a difference in attitude fromthru-hikers. So far, we seem to click better with section hikers, because theydon't care AT ALL how many miles, they're in no hurry, and that's the kind ofenergy I like to be around.So that was that, I went back and converted my hammock into a lounger (basicallyI unhooked the biner holding the ridgeline together and staked out the sidetie-outs for some stability). I got my bag of "I like to have this stuff withme" and layed down. Awwwww Yeaaaaahhh!!! There's NOTHING like lounging underthe trees and sun with a breeze and birds chirping all around, and knowing youdon't have to hike today. It was just what the doctor ordered!Persistent (who I think is on a crusade to make me think she's not interested inhammocking, but secretly really is..LOL) came out of her tent at one point,walks around my tarp (one side is flipped over) and she sees me lounging on theoutside of my hammock. The look on her face (for one brief moment) waspriceless. She goes, "Oh, wow, I didn't know you could lay on the outside likethat." She said it was 90 degrees inside her tent, in the meantime, I had put along sleeved shirt on because the breeze was cooling me off! LOL I startedlaughing, and warned her she was on dangerous ground making a positive commentabout my hammock. She had a pouty look on her face, and we both startedlaughing. I suggested she take the rainfly off her tent, that would certainlycool things off,( even though she would still have to sit or lye on the hardground all day! LOL) So, I've been laying here, adding some details into my other entries, and justenjoying this day. It has been wonderful.We ate lunch, and THANK THE GODDESS Persistent had a tortilla with pepperoni shetraded for one of my tuna packs. *Note to self, never EVER buy 6 of the largesized tuna packs for lunch EVERYDAY! LOL I don't think I'll eat the stuff fora month now.We talked logistics (Persistent's favorite) and tried to figure out if we hadenough food between the 2 of us to still hike to Erwin even if we took anotherzero tomorrow. Answer....nope. We will have to go in from Sam's Gap and justsplit this leg up. I feel kinda dumb for not realizing that was an option tobegin with. I wonder if my foot would be hurting if I wasn't carrying 6 1\2days of food. Hindsight....hindsight. LOLThis afternoon, we walked down for foot soaking, which is a great substitute forice packs. It was really interesting. EVERY single person that came down forwater (Grizzle, Yellow Jacket, Take It Easy,and one other guy) said the same thing. This section out of Hot Springs hasbeen kicking their butts. Sometimes, it is really good to hear you're not alone.I washed my salt covered clothes downstream, strung my bear bag rope for aclothesline and everything is drying. It has truly been a good day. Zeroing inthe woods is a must do in my book, and I think I'll start doing it more often.I think this stretch from Hot Springs to Erwin is sort of an "AT BermudaTriangle." It seems to be the stretch where a lot of people start thinkingabout quitting, where injuries start appearing, where people get sick or decidethey are not enjoying this at all. I know it may be just another section tosome, but not everyone for sure. I feel good (right now of course, I'm lounging). I have no inclination ofquitting, I am hopeful my foot will feel better tomorrow, but I am still happyto be out here. Yes, a small part of me still worries about my slow speed, butall I can do is all I can do. I need to stop worrying huh? LOLOh by the way, Kokopelli, the one who has decided to section hike afterall, hascompleted 3 IronMan competitions, and was in a reality t.v. show where she racedfrom the Canadian border to the Arctic Circle. If that doesn't speak to howhard this is, I don't know what does. We've decided to get to bed early tonite. We'll see how the foot feels tomorrowand go from there. Persistent has a bunch of stuff to do in town, so I mightstay put while she hikes in, and then I'll go in the next day and meet back upwith her.Not sure yet, but time will tell.Hey, have I mentioned how much I love my hammock? LOL~Certain