THE NIGHT
you could hear them. You could head them howling at the moon. The Coyotes. They sound scary at first. If you just listened for a minute it sounded like a song. One would howle to the next and the next one after that. It would slowly lull you to sleep.
TO THE BORDER
I woke up the next day with a goal in mind. Cross the George North Carolina border. We pack up our stuff in an hour and we’re off. It was a nice hiking day which seemed quite flat with only a slow incline hear and their. The main topic for the day was movies.we talked about the sound of music movie. I knew that the next time that we went into town we were going to watch it. That day it was only 8.5 miles to the border so it took us about fourish hours. By noon we were coming up on the sine. I had told myself that I wanted to have a picture of me and bacon in evry state. so once we got the I new what I had to do. I grabbed my bacon and took my picture. Then all that was left was to hike on.
Up the mountain
After that we went over a tinny hill. There it was one of the steepest climbs I had probably ever done. We had to go up. We started off with these steps made of dirt and wood they were hard. Then from behind my pack goes up and all the sudden it feels like I am flying up this mountain. It was my mom from behind pushing me up it was a really nice break. The best part war you could not help but laugh. We went about half way up like that. Then it was just steep with no steeps. That kills you achilles. When I ran my half marathon when it got hard you would just say a mantra like run run run or you can do it you can do it. That way I do when hiking. Since I am trying to learn Spanish on the trail I keeps saying arriba la montaña. This meant up the mountain and it helped me get up.
Down down down
After the up we went down dow down. We had looked on the map and seen that the elevation was not going to go down that much. Ow how we learned how wrong that was. On a map everything is so compressed. In real life wow it long. We went down and down. my legs hurt from the long day and my knees hurt from hitting the ground on the way down. The closer I got the farther it felt.
Camp
We did make it to camp an round three which was nice. I decided to make dinner that night because it was going to be a warm. I coked leftovers and Raman. After being their for a while a group of four or five came it they set up their sleeping bags while me and my mom met some hikers doing a podcast. We asked him about and then he asked if we wanted to be in it. We said yes and it was so fun. But after the podcast people left we sat around and talked to the outer people that were around.
Bear bag
Bear bags the best part of the day. Me and my mom set ours up easily then we watched. Everyone else would miss their banch or get it stuck. It was really funny but eventually everyone got theirs up and went to bed.
Missed your track today on the Mapshare site…Thanks for sharing.
Wow,you gals are doing great. North Carolina . Theres some pretty steep climbs coming up but the way the trail zigzags around and up makes it easier. Take note that when I say (if) it doesn’t mean that I have lost faith in you making it all the way. So with that said, if you make it through NC you pretty much got it whipped . I’ve heard of that NC sorta sets you up for the rest of the trail. Because NC has the tallest mountain range this side of Texas. I happen to know that this is true. I live on the very top of mount pisgah. Just across the ridge from me is the wlos weather radio station. It’s where I met Bob Caldwell, he was the weather man for several years. They have a cable car that takes them to the top of the mountain, but they no longer use it. I can see Asheville from my home but it takes me 45 minutes to drive there. Ok you gals keep on keeping on enjoy the views this is river bill signing out.
Great job, I think I want your autograph. For all its worth (I’m truly proud of you and your mom) your mother sounds like a very wonderful person. Don’t forget to stop off in Hot springs and tryout the natural hot water springs. The general store there also has everything you need to restock. The hike through the mill ridge area is one of my favorites. I used to camp up there next to the fish pond quite often. The laurels bow over the trail and kinda makes me feel as if I’m in a tunnel. There’s plenty of coyotes in north Carolina but I haven’t ever heard of them bothering anyone. I’m River Bill, Have Fun.
I’m so sorry that this virus has happened before you all got to the end of your journey. I have a lot of faith in both of you and just know that one day you will get to the other end. Your young and will get another chance to prove that you got what it takes to get there and I already know that you can do it. I would have thought that the trail would have been the safest place to be. I’m in the woods and have a permanent camp setup with a few friends. We are going to be here for the entirety of this virus situation. We’ve got all that we need to last 5 years if needed. Now listen up, when you do decide to give the trail another go, let me know and I will sponsor you. River Bill said that.