Date: 2014-07-02
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Fuller Lake
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: few clouds

AT day 81Well today was a nice day! We were woken early in the shelter so we got up and going early in the morning. Of course there was a steep incline leaving camp but we are used to that. It was hot and humid right away though. Sometimes leaving the cover of forrest and walking into the open felt like hitting a brick wall of heat. That made the miles go by slowly. We had to take lots of water stops to rehydrate ourselves and Duke. Luckily, we only had a few big hills and lots of flat to walk today! We crossed the midway point of the AT today too! That was pretty cool. Jon was actually carrying Duke ahead of a Kent and I. He stopped all of a sudden and I was wondering what he was looking at. As we approached him, I saw the sign on the pole in the ground too. It was literally a laminated piece of computer paper - stapled to a wood pole but had fallen off - that said we had officially reached the halfway point between Springer Mountain, GA and Mount Katahdin in Maine for the trail this year (it changes every year because of re-routing of the trail). Pretty freaking amazing! We took pictures and sat for a few minutes. It was an exciting moment - especially for Kent. He wasn't sure he'd make it there he says. And for that matter it was exciting for me too since I wasn't sure I'd get to see that point a month ago.Later in the day we passed a big totem pole for that halfway point from other years. We took pictures there too because it was a much better sign! The heat had truly gotten to Duke so we took his pack off and made sure he drank and layed in every stream we crossed. He seemed much better after the pack came off. We finally arrived at Pine Furnace State Park seventeen miles into our day. I swung by the hostel to pick up my new hiking shoes and met the boys at the AT museum. We then went over to the General Store for some food and a long break. While walking over to the store, a lady asked me if I was hiking and if I was doing ok or needed anything. I asked if she happened to have some Neosporin. She told me she had some at home and if I'd be there for a few minutes she'd bring it to me. I told her she didn't need to but sure enough, she came back with an entire first aid kit! Crazy! She gave me some gauze, ointment, ace bandages and more blister pads! I felt very lucky. Then the lady working at the store said she had some lotion for me to try. She went to her car to get it and told me if I needed a ride to the dr she got off work at 7pm and would be happy to take me. I am amazed at how nice people are. That includes everyone back home who have helped us in any way over the last couple months. You guys are truly awesome and I personally don't know what I'd do without everyone. You're all trail angels!I declined the ride to the dr tonight but said if I was still in bad shape tomorrow, I'd go back to the road and hitch a ride in. There were showers at the park so we all went over to use them before walking on to camp. While showering I noticed I have heat rash all over me. And, that whatever is on my butt has spread. So I made sure to wash really good with lots of soap and applied the Neosporin. I'm crossing my fingers that tomorrow I'll see a difference. Kent and Jon are doing well. Kent's medicine seems to be helping his feet and Jon never gets hurt. They are both in good spirits tonight as they plan out our next few days. Duke, like always, is asleep. But tonight be crawled in to his Papas tent! I may get a good nights sleep with my tent to myself. Hopefully, Duke will stay with Kent. Thanks again to everyone!