Date: 2015-05-22
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter, NC

To: No Business Knob Shelter, TN
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: scattered clouds

1852.5 miles to go.I woke up this morning just in time to see Twister, Foxfeet, Half Full, and Black Dynamite disappearing up the trail - I didn't even bother to call out. I lazily ate, packed and chatted with other late-starters before hitting the trail myself at about 11.We actually had a plan for today: big miles (20+), then on to Erwin tomorrow for movie night! I headed out at a good pace, but about three miles in I caught up to Balto, Hiccups (formerly known as Brown Sugar), Tinkerbell, and Amy. They were having lunch, and rightfully so as it was now a little past noon - not to mention we were on a wide-open meadow in the grass, overlooking the valleys below. You could see a farmer burning something in the middle of one of his fields below, the sun was out, and the sky was blue. It was a beautiful place for lunch ... except I had just eaten breakfast. We made small talk for a bit before I finally tore myself away and continued.After a while, I found a nice stream with a convenient moss covered rock, so I stopped for a snack. Balto passed me and kept going. When I finally resumed the hike, I ran into some unexpected trail magic just a mile or so down the trail: somebody had left an ice chest with some drinks, and a box with some snacks, along with a large trash bag out in the middle of the woods. Leaving trail magic alone in the woods isn't ideal, but I guess we weren't complaining. Unfortunately the box was empty, but I knew Erwin was tomorrow so I wasn't too disappointed. I did take the opportunity to get rid of my trash, probably 1-2 pounds worth of empty bags and wrappers. Hey, every pound helps!The trail magic is right where Hiccups caught up to me. We continued on for a bit together, and she was only a few minutes behind me when We got to the top of Big Bald. Balto was still there, so the three of us hung out for a bit, soaked in the views and the sunshine, and took some pics.I eventually moved on because I was hungry and thirsty. The next shelter was maybe a mile, so I stopped there, got water, and cooked a hot meal. I chatted with Carver, who was waiting on Balto, and a few other hikers who were there, while I cooked and ate.After Big Bald, it was mostly downhill, except for one more spot creatively called "High Rock". I stopped and reveled in one last vista before begrudgingly strapping my pack on and heading towards the next shelter. And I would have made it, too, if it hadn't been for that last ridgeline!The sun dropped in the west, the trail dropped to the east of the ridge, and the dense woods blocked out all lingering shades of dusk. The day went from bright daylight, to dusky, still dusky, still dusky, still dusky .... to complete darkness. At about 9 pm, I went from lingering twilight to inky night in the space of about ten steps. I pulled out my headlamp and night-hiked for the second time this journey, getting in to the shelter at about 9:30. Maybe I shouldn't have lingered so long during the day, but I don't regret a single minute of it. Isn't the journey itself what it's all about?I feel like after 40 days and 40 nights on the trail, I should have some kind of profound insight, or philosophical outlook, or life-changing experience. Well .... I don't. I do have a bunch of new friends, a bunch of pictures, and a bunch of awesome experiences that I can carry with me the rest of my life ... and maybe at the end of the journey, that's what it's all about - either that, or the hokey-pokey.