Today was just about the perfect hiking day. Started out with a temp of 30 degrees and a little frost this morning for the hike up Tray Mt. Really not that bad. Got to the top and took some pictures, changed clothes and headed onward.
Had lunch at Sassafras Gap [GA] with Honey and Moon [Trail Names...our guys have yet to get one...someone else has to give it to you during the hike...so goes tradition], and their dog Buster. [Don't think dogs get trail names...they would get awfully confused!!!]. They were form Colorado and on their honeymoon, Moon said he grew up as a boy in Amsterdam, NY. We passed several times on the trail and finally they pushed ahead and we lost them.
Rick's feet are hurting him pretty bad today so the pace has been pretty slow. We plan on stopping overnight in Hiawassee [GA] tonight and maybe stay an extra day to let Rick's feet heal up a bit.
Spider [trail name] went by us about 1:00 this afternoon and was going to try to do 21 miles today. When we saw him, he had only done 6. When we got to Dick's Creek Gap, there was a guy named Rick that was giving away free food to any hikers going through. He had dried food fresh apples, oranges, bananas, candles, soda on ice. I had an orange and a coke and sat down to eat it. While we were eating we talked to a fellow named Jerome form Atlanta who was just hiking for a couple of days. Seems he used to live in Binghamton and went to college there. Jerome piled all of our packs (3) and 3 people into his jeep and he drove us to Hiawassee, 8 miles, right to our motel.
Checked in and got a hot shower and feel much better now. We're going to get something to eat and hit the sack. Tomorrow we will pick up our packages and do laundry.
So far the mountains in Georgia are not anything like I expected them to be...THEY'RE WORSE!!! Delaware County mountains don't have anything over the Shenandoah Mts. They're pretty tall. So far everything seems to be holding up pretty well...the pack, the tent, the sleeping bag for the 30 deg. weather, and most of all my knees and feet. The trail seems to go over the mts. differently than in the Catskills. Down here they use a lot of switchbacks so aren't nearly as steep. BUT, it isn't easy.
Total miles for 1 week = 75.6. Today - 12.5 miles.
Jim.