Date: 2022-05-06
From: Campsite by Spring

To: Low Gap/US 421/Bristol, TN/Home
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

What a crazy day. So this will all play out before this gets posted so I will share that I have pushed miles up in order to get picked up and surprise my mom for Mother¢s Day. The plan was going to plan for my dad to pick me up in Damascus, VA. tomorrow afternoon. And then things went a little sideways with a Tornado Watch and thunderstorms for the area. I hiked most of the day in the rain with some thunder. I¢ve done that before and it was fine. Looking at the weather after the fact I would have been fine to stay out in the weather for one more night but there was the chance. It could have been bad if I was in a shelter in the mountains when a tornado came through.Anyways, I started the day early to get a good start. I was shooting for around 24 miles today. I made good time coming across the ridge I was on. It was small ups and downs. I think I must have pulled something on my left knee as it started to hurt and refuse to hold my whole weight. I was still making good time though.I made it to TN 91 by 1pm, which was 13 miles. I stopped for a break and a snack. Then a USFS volunteer showed up and asked if she could have me fill out a survey about my time in the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness. I got a free Orange out of it so I did. Her name is Karen and she is likely in her 60¢s. She was really sweet.Then I hiked through a cow pasture. Which was interesting to be dodging cow poop on the trail. I then had to work my way through the herd. They didn¢t seem to mind me much.When I got to US 421 I stopped for another break and to get water. When I checked my phone the group text was talking about a Tornado Watch for the area. I knew the storms were still coming but that took it to another level. So I hitched a ride into Bristol. The guy who gave me a ride was Tim. He lives in the area. At his recommendation, he dropped me off at The Cave. It¢s a family owned Italian place. As I walked in the whole staff were at the door and windows watching the storm roll in. I explained who I was and why I was there and they said I was welcome to stay. I ordered a calzone and it was great. After talking to my dad and looking at all the weather still coming we decided that he and my mom would come get me.While I was waiting for them to come I met the Schrenker family. They were a lot of fun to talk to and get to know while waiting for my parents. They wanted to know what gear I use on the trail. I ended up doing a show and tell of my gear for them. It was a lot of fun to break down everything I use and how I use it. It was a lot of fun to meet them.The place closed before my parents arrived but the owner let me sit under their outdoor covered area while I waited. My parents were so excited to see me. We loaded my stuff and headed home. We hadn¢t made it far and I started getting car sick. I haven¢t been that fast in several weeks. And to do it in the dark with lights flying by. It wasn¢t good. I ended up crawling into the back seat and laying down with my eyes covered. I slept most of the way home.It was so nice and odd to sleep in my own bed. But I loved it so much.