Date: 2014-05-07
From: Laural Creek Shelter

To: Audie Murphy Memorial
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Laural Creek around 640. today was marked by Lizards, Deer, Keefer Oak, Rock Scrambles and the Audie Murphy Memorial. The trail was pretty easy to hike this morning and provided me with interaction with a number of deer. I think I have seen more deer this week than I saw in the first 6 weeks of my hike. One particular time, I came around a corner and less than 25 yards away a doe and her last years fawn were grazing. They simply looked up and as I continued to hike, I talked to them and them seemed to be quite comfortable with me being so close. Then another time I was coming off a mountain side next to a meadow when across the meadow I saw 6 deer running. I thought they might come my way because I was near an animal crossing, but they continued down the hill to a wooded stream and out of sight. The mix of woods and meadows is a real nice change. The flowers continued to bloom and apple trees are blossoming. A lot of sweet fragrances. It brings back memories of mid night mass with my Grandmother Pirie and her friends and the smell of gardinias and other perfumes. Davinci and I hiked together for a while and got some nice pics of the "Keefer Oak". It is at least 18 ft. in diameter and is estimated at 300 plus years and is the biggest tree in the south on the AT. Only the "Dover Oak" in NY is slightly bigger. After that we had to push through some steep but ok climbes to top of ridge. The path was real nice going up and had some neat rock scrambles with some really sharp drop offs and views of the valley and ridges we would climb later today. Along the ridge there were several interesting piles of rocks like someone purposely picked up the rocks from all over and neatly piled them up. There were also a number of rock cairns that appeared to be put up by hikers as they passed through. Of course I added one to a pile to be part of the crew. I got to Nidday Shelter and met feather (Southbound) and Problem Bear. Problem Bear and I talked for about a half hour while others came in for lunch. Spiro a young guy had run out of Aqua Mira to sterilize his water so I gave him some of mine. I waited for Gray Ghost as we were going to meet up for the night to camp together, but he hadn't shown and my legs were getting tight to I moved on knowing I would see him at the top of a very high ridge line. This climb was 1500 ft. again in the middle of the heat of the day and was straight up. To ward off some of the heat I had taken my bandana and soaked it in the creek and wrapped it around my neck. Boy it felt great and lasted quite a long time. Got to the top around 330 where there was a bench to sit on. I decided to wait there for Gray Ghost so I took off my shoes and socks and had a snack. It wasn't 10 or 15 minutes and Gray Ghost showed up. We decided to go look at the Audie Murphy Memorial only a little ways up and see if there was a tenting spot. The memorial was really nice with a stone monument surrounded by stones and momentos from different branches of the armed services and from various people. Mr. Murphy was one of the most decorated service men during World War II and had died in a plane crash in the area in 1971. Of course since the day was quite warm the bugs were out in force. I put up my tent but Gray Ghost decided to cowboy camp. Supper was quickly eaten and I was off to my tent. It was a good day overall and I'm feeling better about myself and the distance I was covering. I will try to get a hold of Terry R. soon to decide if and where I will be able to meet up with her around Waynesboro. As it was getting dark, Heart Wood showed up and headed to look at the monument. I went up to talk to her and took some pics for her at the monument. We sat and talked awhile and then suggested she stay here for the night, so she also cowboy camped in the area. There was also a memorial for Matt Payne, a local hiker b his friends. He had passed away in 2010 and had been a member of the "Rocket city Ramblers". Headed for 4 Pines Hostel at mm 698.3 tomorrow.