- Miles 452.2-464.4 (12.2 miles)
- Total ascent: 2771’; descent 3186’
I didn’t take any photos today, which I’m happy about because it means I spent little time on my phone. What I didn’t spend behind a screen (and then some) I spent gabbing.
We said a long, Midwestern goodbye to Cindy and Suzanne this morning, who managed to leave camp not long after we’d poked our heads out of the tent. From before noon until almost 1, we talked about everything from get-rich-quick schemes to agricultural markets to unconventional inset repellants with Poncho, our Kentucky cattle farmer friend.
We also (finally) exchanged numbers with Cindy and Suzanne, who we first met at the Fontana Hilton on my birthday and have continued to see on the trail since.
After getting to camp, which we shared with a tired and decidedly less talkative Poncho, we caught up with Tyler and Tessa. We look forward to helping Tessa explore her newfound cake-baking interest when we get home.
From Tyler and Tessa, we also learned another Jackson High School alumnus is doing the AT: Caleb, whose last name and social media handles we shouldn’t share without permission.
As it turns out, Caleb had many classes with one of my brothers and is just five miles ahead of us now. He spent the day in Damascus and camped last night just a mile from our current location. I messaged Caleb on Instagram moments ago saying Rachel and I would love to get breakfast or coffee tomorrow.
It was a good day for social joys to take center stage. We had not-so-impressive views in largely deciduous, hilly forest (think Missouri Ozarks) and a downright hot afternoon. We got more than a little sunburned, after our sunscreen tube dripped its last drop during our breakfast application.
One non-social bright spot of today was the reduction in forefoot and toenail pain I experienced with a new lacing pattern. Rachel skipped the eyelets at the bottom of the tongue of the boot, allowing for a wider toe box (Rachel claims it isn’t uncommon for long-distance hikers’ feet to widen permanently).
I experienced this reduction while carrying a full load of water, no less. The terrain was soft but mostly downhill, the latter of which is also hard on feet.
As I’ve written about in the last post or so, we’ll kick out boots off in Damascus tomorrow. We’re staying at the Dragonfly Inn and expect to resupply at the Dollar General across the street.
In Hot Springs, DG turned out to be a strong resupply option. Our only couldn’t-find was olive oil, and we were forced off-list only for a high-calorie lunch spread: a strange, sweet garlic mayo.
But first, we’ll cross tomorrow morning into Virginia, a state we’re excited for. The terrain will be easier and the elevation profile flatter than in Tennessee and North Carolina, generally speaking, though we’ll need to do more miles.
We aren’t worried, but we are a little irritated at the owls that chose 9 p.m. to sing their round. If we’re going to be in Damascus by noon, we need to get to sleep.
