So I added the miles from day 4 to the previous blog. I also didn’t blog on days 4 and 5, so I’ll give you some highlights. Highlights first: my route name is «Stretch»! I’ve been stretching all the time and Rob 1 decided to coin the name.
Day 4, Woods Hole Shelter to Neels Gap, about 4 miles
- I went up Blood Mountain, which had a great view.
- I stayed at Mountain Crossings with a good team.
- He ate everything except 1 slice of pizza
- I took a shower, very good 🙂
- I went to Blairsville, GA with some hikers to resupply and ate at the Hole in the Wall restaurant.
Day 5, Neels Gap to Poplar Stamp Campground, 13 miles
- I had a blue monster from Trail Magic
- Polished a whole block of cheese
- I enjoyed the company of many people at the Poplar Stamp tent site.
Cheese didn’t stand a chance
Day 6, Poplar Stamp to Tray Mountain Shelter, 14.3 miles
Today was a magical day, and I don’t mean that in the sense of wizards and unicorns. I got magic trail twice today, and both times included hamburgers and hot dogs!
The morning started quite normally. My knee/IT band is still bothering me, so I walked slowly to start. Shortly after I stopped to have oatmeal and coffee. Now is where we reach the first magical path.
I smelled it before I saw it. Going down to Unicoi Gap, there was a giant tent with tons of lawn chairs around it. I was immediately greeted and told to help myself to burgers, dogs, fries, soda, candy, and first aid supplies. So amazing. I made a cheeseburger and had a Dr. Pepper. I stayed at Unicoi Gap and chatted with other hikers for about an hour before leaving to continue hiking.
In the afternoon I was hiking with Neon. We had a great conversation and I suggested that he should do the Camino Santiago. Later we met Condor and Bobcat. It was a hot day, so we all stopped at the streams and stuck our heads in the water. It’s little details like this that make exhausting hikes tolerable.
Just a couple of hours after the first magical trail, I once again smelled the distinctive aroma of the grill. As we descended onto a dirt road, a couple grilled burgers and dogs. They also drank iced sodas, sweet tea and sports drinks. Feeling full from the last of the trail magic, I opted for a sweet tea, a sports drink, and a tangerine. Everything was delicious and I was so grateful to be able to experience the magic of the trails twice in one day!
The day of hiking ended with a tremendous climb up Tray Mountain. At least from the top there was an impressive view. We camped at the shelter and spent a quiet afternoon. I set up my tent next to an area of trilliums.
~ Stretch your mind, Stretch your limits, Stretch your muscles ~
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