Date: 2013-06-27
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs - Elmer's Sunnybank Inn
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

Awaken in the night by the baying of bear hounds. By their barks they seem to be coming closer. Sleep flits away at the thought of bears nearby. Once I settle in to a slumber again the wind picks up. The whooshing noise is reminiscent of the sound of an approaching tornado. The branch that falls and hits my tent solidifies my newly awakened state. The rains come pouring down with thunder and lightning. I'm debating running to the shelter but it is quickly too late. Once again another prolific storm is upon me. With the arrival of morning the rain slowly lessens. I find a window to pack up and then break my fast at the shelter. Longhaul starts his music and I catch up on the journal. With more people around to talk with the journal is becoming harder to find time to write. The rain lets up and we all head out. My goal is 18 miles but I've never gone that far before. I decide to listen to some poetry to keep the pep in my step. There are multiple long climbs today - at least 3 around 1000 feet. I find it easier to slip into a walking meditation. Myron's clears as I focus on watching my step. I miss these moments when I'm back in the busy world of teaching. I catch up to Walkabout and Longhaul eating second breakfast at one of the many impromptu campsites. I join them and finish eating some cheese and other goodies as they leave. There is an easy flow to life on the trail. People are around and you just become a group for the moment but everybody is hiking their own way. Letting go of others and greeting them again is becoming the way. Similar to the way the students leave at the end of the school year leaving teachers to wonder how they will change the world. Eventually Buddy joins in with our leapfrogging hiking. He also is trying for the long day. He and I move ahead and pick up our pace - the rumbling of thunder is upon us again. With 6 miles to go the weather teases us. Thunder remains off to the east and the west seems to be breaking up. Lost amongst the trees without a clear horizon distorts my impression. The rains start falling again. Buddy and I make a call when we get to the shelter turnoff. 0.2 miles off trail seems good to us since the lightning is lighting up right around us. Within the safety of the shelter we eat and wait out the storm. The other two find us here. Longhaul immediately looks for a place to art up the tent. They are ending here and want one more day of camping. I look on in bewilderment because the storm is still pounding away. When it drops off to a light sprinkle Buddy and I head out. Again toying with us, the storm picks right back up after we've gone too far to turn back. The lure of a bed at Elmer's Sunnybank Inn calls us. The water flowing down the trail becomes a river. Leaves hit rocks and form rapids. The water rises above my boot and soon every step sloshes. Cascading falls that wouldn't be present in normal times creates new obstacles to dart through. Nearing the end we come upon a newly downed tree and have to work our way through. It's tough avoiding the poison ivy vine wrapped around it. I try not to think about what leaves I'm stepping in. The long downhill finally brings us to Hot Springs and we search out Elmer's. the place us not marked so the map comes in very handy. Elmer's is a beautiful place a couple of thru hikers on work stay show us around. It is an old boarding house that looks like a classic bed and breakfast. We quickly shower and head over to the Smoky Mountain Diner for dinner. The poor mans special fills me up and the salad provides some long needed fresh veggies. The might ends a bit later but with the happiness of finishing a long hike.