Date: 2018-08-15
From: Birds Nest #3 shelter 

To: Big Meadows Campground 
Miles today: 13.7

Beautiful day to be hiking. Saw my first bear CUB today with his mama! I¢ve heard a lot of stories about people getting bluff charged by defensive mama bears, so I was a little on edge. But she didn¢t seem bothered by me at all. I was able to get a video of her and also one of her cubs climbing up in a tree. Legit looked like a little cute ass awkward teddy bear. LolPassed by another Wayside today for lunch. Except this one wasn¢t a short-order grill, but rather The ¢Skyland Resort and Restaurant¢. Oooo! Lol I spent $12 on this super small veggie wrap. I got GOT. Didn¢t even put a dent in my appetite. Met two other thruhikers there! As I was walking up to the place, I see this guy and girl waving and yelling at me from a bench outside. At first I thought maybe they knew me somehow? Turns out, they were just excited to see another thruhiker. And god, so was I! First thruhikers I¢ve actually gotten to meet since I¢ve started walking south!! Their names were Firey Goat and Little Bear. I asked them what direction they were headed and they said North. I asked if they were going all the way and they said yes. After an awkward pause, I couldn¢t help but ask, ¢Sooo, you really think you¢re gonna make it in time?¢ Lol. They both laughed. They seemed to be aware that there was no way they¢d make it to Katadhin by Oct 15th, but they hadn¢t exactly decided on when and where they were gonna flip up north. Straggling NoBos are a thing. LolIt was really great talking with them. Too bad we¢re headed in opposite directions. They said that they¢ve met a handful of thruhikers headed south that are probably just a day or two ahead of me, so I might meet some more people soon. Before we parted ways, Little Bear saw how mutilated my arms and legs were from scratching, so he gave me his whole tube of After Bite ointment. Lol God bless. I ended up hanging out in the lobby of this restaurant for awhile. Making phone calls and talking with friends. Before I knew it, it was 4pm and I had zero motivation to hike. Lol I re-evaluated the day¢s plans and decided I just wouldn¢t go as far. I¢m staying at Big Meadows Campground tonight, which is actually an official SNP campsite that you technically have to pay $20 to use. Each camp spot has its own tent pad, bear box, fire pit, and picnic table. I waited until 8pm to throw my tent up, so that hopefully no one would notice I¢m here. Because I¢ll be damned if I have to pay that $20 when I just walked over 1,200 miles to get to this point. LolI think I¢ll try and make up the mileage tomorrow. It¢s so hard to be motivated to hike some days. It¢s even harder not being surrounded by other thruhikers to motivate me. It¢s starting to make hiking feel like such a chore. I keep trying to remind myself that I don¢t HAVE to hike. I GET to hike. No one is making me do this. I worked really hard for several years, so that I could make this hike a reality. Before I came out here, I used to tell myself that soon I wouldn¢t have to worry about a job, deadlines, bills, drama, etc. My biggest worry every day would just be hiking from one destination to the next. And all things considered, that¢s a pretty easy life. I like to think that a year from now when this is all over and I¢m back in the concrete jungle working some 9-5 job, I¢ll probably be staring at the walls of my apartment and really be missing these woods.