Date: 2018-05-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I will start this post with ¢ The Story of the Three Bears¢. This happened back at Groundhog Shelter on The evening of April 21. As I laying in the shelter nearly asleep around 10 pm, a man came running up telling how there are three bears and they won¢t go away. Now he was camping about .2 mile north of the shelter. It seems odd, but someone had taken a marker and in big letters written Bears on the shelter wall. Anyway, the man with the three bears encounter said that he gathered up everything he could and ran down to the the shelter I was staying in. He tried to scare off the Bears by banging loudly on his pans but to no avail. They just stood there looking at him. By this time they were around his tent so he had to abandon it. He did manage to take some pics. I can say that one of the bears was very large. I told him his tent was probably safe since it was still there before he left. If the bears had smelled any food in the tent, it would have been shredded very quickly by the bears so they could get at any food. So a fellow camper with his dog and the man, went back to retrieve his tent. Luckily, the tent was still unharmed and there were no bears in sight. He finished his story by saying ¢I wanted to see bears but not like this¢. This story illustrates why you do not keep food or eat in your tent. Good for the hiker that he followed proper protocol!Now to my hike update.I have hiked around 70 miles since my last post. Although I am out of the Smokies, there is still a lot of hiking up long and steep mountains. Also, some steep decents; but, I had my best hiking days nevertheless. The mountains and forests, National Parks, rivers, streams, etc. provide breathtaking views. I am also hiking with GoJoe, which is compatible with my hiking speed- though he is a little faster. Joe is from near Providence, Massachusetts.I experienced some trail magic at I-26 underpass the other morning. People teamed up from Asheville, NC, Johnson City, TN, and Damascus, VA. They provided a large variety of food, snacks, drinks, and even hot pancakes! They are wonderful, thoughtful and generous people to do this although it was a cold, windy morning. Thanks to all of them!Got off the trail Monday at 2:15 and hitchhiked into Erwin, TN. Erwin was about 3.5 miles west to where I got off the trail. A man that owns a eatery and Hostel in Roan Mtn., TN gave us a ride. I will definitely visit the eatery when I get there, which is about a three day hike. Joe keeps being amazed at the Southern people and their hospitality, esp the Baptist Churches. He said they do not have anything like this in Massachusetts. Says the farther you get north, the more they look down on hikers. I guess I will see.Going back to Erwin, Tim and Estil Woodward, from Scott co., TN and very good friends of mine, came down to spend some time together. They picked me up at Bojangles and we went To Johnson City, TN and stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night and  also ate at Texas Roadhouse. Thanks for your support and coming to Erwin Tim and Estil!!I will be taking off today, staying in Erwin tonight, then getting back on the trail tomorrow morning. I should be arriving in Damascus, VA on the evening of May 11th. In Damascus, they have what they call ¢Trail Days¢ from May 18-20. This is a celebration for all the current and past hikers. I have heard lots of good things about it so I plan on attending May 18-19. Although I will be north of there, I will be getting a shuttle or ride back to Damascus and then back to the trail afterward. I look forward to it! I may even get a haircut there since the warmer weather should be here to stay for awhile.My hiking from Hot Springs, NC since last post:Thurs, 4/26: 16.3 miles I mostly rain, stayed at Hemlock Hostel. Longest mileage hike to date. Great hostel in a beautiful setting.Fri, 4/27: 13.9 miles, Sunny around 60d, TentedSat, 4/28: 12.2 m, stayed in Hogback Ridge Shelter, Sunny mid 60s cold night about 30dSun: 4/29: 15.8m, tented, sunny, high 40s, not as cold of night 35dMon: 4/30: 11.1m into Erwin, TN, Sunny near 65Tues, 5/1: Off or Zero DayWed, 5/2: back on trail amWill post pics now