Date: 2018-04-12
From: Wayah Gap 

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

I woke up a little later than usual this morning.  Papa Big Swig made oatmeal with nuts and berries, coffee, and a banana. A great start to a great day!  Since I haven¢t seen Orlando in a few days I decided to do a flip flop. That means I had hubby drop me off 10 miles north and I hiked back to where I had stopped yesterday. I was hoping we would cross paths. I saw lots of familiar faces but not hers.  This is a good time for me to tell you that I was a little turned around this morning. The mountains can do that to you. I walked 7/10 of a mile north when I first took off. And of course it was all up! I kept hearing my dad say ¢the sun is your compass¢. I knew if I was going south in the morning the sun should be on my left and it wasn¢t. Instinctively I just turned around and went back where I came from.  About 1/2 way back I ran into a Nobo who confirmed my direction suspicions. Am I ever glad that my dad took the time to teach me how to use the sun. My favorite hiking partner went with me today. We were alone a lot so I let her run off leash. She was so well behaved! I leashed her up twice when we crossed paths with other dogs, and once to cross a road. She listened the first time and waited for her leash.  That¢s my girl Seylor Jo!  We had some delicious trail magic at Winding Stair Gap. I drank a Dr Pepper and ate some chips. Just what I needed for the next up. Seylor had some doggie biscuit magic along the way too. This was another mostly ridge hiking day. As you know, I love that because there¢s always some sort of view. The only bad thing about ridge hiking is trying to find a place to potty. If there¢s switchbacks, you¢re in full view! Oh well, gotta do what you gotta do. One of the dogs we crossed paths with today was a German Shepherd named Morrison. He and his mommy, Hugs, had stayed in the shelter near my tent the night before last. Hugs is hurting, so Papa Big Swig picked her up where he let me off this morning, she had planned to try to slack pack with me tomorrow.  Slack packing means you hike with a day pack only. Food, water, bear mace, trowel, wet wipes, bug spray, and an odorless bag for your trash.  It¢s about a 10lb hikers delight!  So today I officially was a flip flop slack packer!  And even though I headed south today, I¢m still a Nobo.  Seylor and I waited back at Rock Gap about 30 min for Papa Big Swig and Hugs to pick us up. A couple of trail angels who are local veterans drove up the mountain to visit. They brought us hikers some cold Budweisers. I thanked them for the beer and for their service. Corporal Smith is 80 years old and just enjoys cheering us on. He was a highly educated man with some good stories to tell. The other angel calls himself Happy Jack. He¢s younger (60-ish)and hopes to open Happy Jack¢s Hostel next year. I wish him well. No word from Orlando, but others reported that she¢s doing fine and plans to be at Rock Gap Shelter tonight. Papa Big Swig sent a big bag of burgers and some pizzas to Rock Gap shelter tonight, and in exchange for the Magic they promised me they would let Orlando charge her phone on their source enough to contact me. Praying she gets there safe and well. Currently I¢m sitting at a walk-in clinic with Hugs. She¢s a Nurse Practitioner( no wonder we are friends) and she fears a stress fracture. An X-ray is in process as I type. I hate complaining, but my right knee is a mess too. I¢m coming back in the morning for a cortisone injection. Hopefully that will nip it in the bud and let me hike on with less pain.  If the moon and stars align I¢ll be eating some Mexican food in a few minutes. Until Next TimeBlue Raccoon (2018) Where¢s your faith?