Date: 2010-04-12
From: Log Cabin Drive

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 51.8
Weather: clear sky

Three day update.4/10 Log Cabin Rd. to Rector Laurel Rd. - 19.2 miles4/11 Rector Laurel Rd. to Bald Mtn Shelter - 15.74/12 Bald Mtn Shelter to Erwin, TN - 16.9Wow, 68 miles in 4 days. The blisters will of course prove this. Where to begin? Got out early from Hemlock Hollow Farm, and was hiking by 8am. The day went well till near the end. I sat down at the Shelton Gravesite, where three people are buried in the same grave, really, at about 4pm for a quick snack and break. I got up and had just 2.5 miles or so to the shelter. I had walked in a maze of old logging roads for a long time, and it was this maze that got me. Actually I was walking along just lost in my own thoughts when about 5:30pm I walked out into a cron field. And like Forrest Gump alone in Veitnam, this was a bad thing. I had just walked down the mountian for about a mile, so back up the mountian I went. By 6pm I still hadn't found the AT again, so back down the mountain I went. Corn needs water, water leads to road, hitch hike back to AT, well that was the plan. I was PO-ed at myself!!! I must have walked another couple miles down that creek, then came to my first house, no one home, second house Mr Tom (86 y/o) sitting on porch, Mr Vernon (84 y/o) drove up with his youngest son Michael (60 y/o). We all talked about getting lost, and Mr Vernon said he had fished many a hiker out of that holler over the years, and not to worry about getting lost up thar. He gave me a 5 mile ride back to Devil's Fork Gap. I hiked another mile or so and then set up my tent as it was getting dark. So add another 3.5 miles to the old make up list. Although I probably did walk 20 miles, just not all on the AT.Awoke on the 11th, and found 4 dogs waiting for me outside my tent. Two hound dogs and two Alaskian looking "big" dogs. We had a little conversation where they grawled a lot, and I explained I wasn't in the mood, and to get!!! They were clearly not used to someone more angry than they were, so they left. It was a tuff day, and the climb up Big Bald at the end of the day was just a beating. It was worth it though as the view was spectactular. There was a nice couple there, Ron & Debbie, who gave Bonnie Boy and I a fresh orange to split. That might have been the best orange I had ever eaten. Another mile or so to Big Bald Shelter, and a quick dinner, and in the bag. Very tired!Got up on the 12th with a long day ahead to reach Erwin, TN 17 miles away. But I was determined to have a Sprite by dark. I walked all day and never saw another soul. Very peaceful, and but different. I can't say that there has been any other day where I didn't see someone. The trail was nice, and the walking was easy for the most part. Very isolated section. The down hill into Erwin really did in the left knee for some reason, but here I am. Uncle Johnny's at the edge of town was full, and so now I is at the Holiday Inn Express. The laundry is done, one shower done and another to follow before bed. Blisters opened up and healing. Two new ones today, wow! I will need to let these heal a little before tackling Roan Mtn.Medical Report: 4 blisters, everything hurts, today I think getting lost is funny. God does have a sense of humor. He must really love me a lot.God Bless.