Date: 2014-05-26
From: Rite Stop Motel, Fayetteville

To: Campsite north of Milesburn Cabin
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: light rain

I spent the morning packing and put my boots at bottom of the pack. Along with the food resupply, it weighs a lot. Checked out at 11 and the motel owner drove me back to the trail. It was just .4 miles into Caledonia State Park, where I found Survivor Man at the concession stand by the pool eating a burger. He had been off the trail since mid-day yesterday visiting an old fraternity friend. He told me that The Machine is having to get off the trail for a while because of a stress fracture in her ankle. She was worried about the ankle at the Teahorse Hostel. Too bad! But she hopes to get back on with the group she has been with and then fill in the gap after Katahdin.I had a cheeseburger and a chocolate shake. I asked the woman if she could make it thick. She did, and it was perfect! I thanked her afterward, and we had a nice chat about the trail. Also had a brief chat with Kamikaze, another NOBO thru-hiker.I was feeling really sluggish. Combination of heat, my feet, food, and a monster pack. Just as I was about to start up the steep hill out of the park, a man approached holding out an apple. He said, "We had been hoping to feed someone, and we saw you walk by. This may help with the climb." I thanked him for the trail magic, and we talked about where I was headed. He is clearly familiar with the trail, and he said to be sure to take a break at the Quarry Gap Shelter.Indeed, it was most welcome at the end of the long climb. The last bit was through a thick bower of Rhododendrons, I seem to be back to those, Mountain Laurel, and even some hemlock. Just before I got there, two men came by SOBO. I spoke with Still Movin', who is 73 and doing a fairly large section. He is actually NOBO but was slack packing today. He has done a thru-hike already. The shelter is beautifully maintained, with flower pots, a steel food box with a little roof, and a picnic table between two shelter sections that in a pinch could each hold three. I enjoyed my apple, signed the register (Infinity was there yesterday), and trudged on.I wish my feet worked better. Much of the time, I feel like I am swinging them forward and all they do is flap woodenly on the ground. I had hoped the shoes would help, and maybe they will when I get used to them. The feet seem to hurt less, though my outside ankle bones are sore from the shoe tops.As I was trudging uphill a couple of miles from my planned stop, I heard from behind, "Nubbins, is that you?" It was Sky, whom I had met quite a ways back. Turns out he had been off the trail for a while with family. He still had 17 miles he hoped to do, so I watched him quickly disappear down the trail,I had planned to camp by the Milesburn Cabin, since AWOL indicated tent sites, but a sign said no camping near cabin. It was by a road and down close to a stream, so I left my pack and checked up the hill across the road. There was a site with a fire ring, so I went back, filtered a bunch of water and took it up to the site before fetching the heavy pack. I found a reasonably level spot for the tent, pitched it, and relaxed a bit before cooking dinner. The cell signal was too weak for a call to Lee, but we did manage some texts. Too bad, because it sounds like she had a frustrating day with a very cranky internet connection.Time for sleep. It has cooled off enough that I should be able to sleep well.