Date: 2007-06-21
From: Wateroak Gap

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

6.21, Wateroak Gap to Dick's Creek Gap 13.5 milesWoke up at 5:30 but decided I had time today to sleep until 7. Then I bolted awake and began packing. Better to get to the gap early for pick up rather than to have my cousins wait on me. An houar later, I took a brief moment to check out Muskrat Creek Shelter, the last shelter in NC. It was nice too, beause it had an old shelter log with notes from my fellow sobos. So nice to be able to see what they were feeling as they got so close to the finish line. Wonder how I will feel when I have less than 100 miles to go?Not long afterwards, I was at Bly Gap and the old tree. I hung out for a snack and a few photos. Warming up in temps and humidity. Not quite as nice weather or trail conditions as yesterday. This section of trail is much more gravelly. Left the tree and before I could blink it seemed, I was at my last state border crossing. Even though I still have to go back and hike VA, I manged somehow to do the state border crossings in somewhat of a continuous and orderly manner. Of course, I'm gonna take a picture. I even did what I never do, I left my mark on the sign. Yep, I signed it and stuck some of my star stickers on it. I know, I know. Horrible leave no trace ethics. But it's my last border crossing. It's my home state. It's just this one time. (Read those last three sentences with the most whiny voice you can imagine.)I pass a hiker eager to make the state line and then I pass three more hikers. Two older and one younger male hikers. Hilarious and friendly were these men. And cute too! I found out later that they were doing a section and had dropped their packs and were dayhiking it to the state line. I guess so they could say that they hiked all of GA. Then I met Buck and Roo, father and nine year old daughter doing just the GA section. They too, had stashed their packs and were dayhiking the last 3 miles to the state line. They were such a delightful pair, I think I stopped and talked to them for about 30 minutes. I am so impressed with the attitude and perserverance of this kid. If she can do this at 9, she can do anything she sets her mind and heart to! Go Roo!While I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Buck and Roo, this left me no dilly dallying time if I'm going to meet my cousins on time. Good thing there wasn't many exciting places to dillydally. I'm about half a mile from the gap and I see and hear my cousins. I had hoped to see three black labs greet me on the trail at any point during the last hour, but Mandy decided not to bring them as she had to work tonight. I am excited to see them and I share more of the trail with them explaining thw white blaze markings and the shelter situations and all. I scoped out some of the other trails in the area, so maybe Labor Day or another fall weekend, I can bring them out here for more than just a mile of hiking.They treat me to dinner at the local Mexican restaurant and then we drop Mandy off at the drive-in. Dennis takes me to the efficiency apartment at his shop and I clean up while he works on wet sanding a camero. Then I'm off heading home for the weekend. I call my girlfriends on the way home to see if they can meet me for drinks and birthday celebrations tomorrow. By the time I get home, I'm beat. So excited to be home after three weeks of traveling. I think I will sleep well tonight!Post Script: Today, being the summer solstice and all is considered by many to be Naked Hiking Day. But I did not partake, nor did any of the hikers I met today. Personally, Roo and I are grateful that we did not have to experience encountering a stranger walking around in their birthday suit!