June 27 Mile 886

Whiporwill sang all night and
kept our friend Tunes awake all night,
He's the one who coined the term, "foot puzzle" to describe the delimma we have when trying to determine how to climb up and down big rock piles on the trail. We are hiking with Tunes and Tootsie Pops and they are great to be with. We all slept in late- about an hour- due to getting in so late last night and doing a 20 mile day. Only need to do 13 today to stay on schedule to get to mile 918, Rock Spring cabin, where my fraternity brother Jack Berry, will very kindly host us on Tuesday. We are very excited about that and really appreciate his hospitality.
Left about 8:30, with a goal of making it to our first food opportunities in the Park, and we are excited. The trail was very accomodating.  After 850+ miles of ups and downs and 2000 ft climbs every day, it is so weird and wonderful to be on a place where the ups and downs are very shortlived and we can just cruise along. The forest is not very exciting and there are few views. I think this park is made for cars, to drive the Skyline Drive and go to overlooks. The only  issue I am having is some right foot sole discomfort- an ache. Really think I need some new arch support there and will work on that. Otherwise, all ok.
Got to the camp store at Loft Mtn campground by noon- what an oasis!! Food, restrooms, soft drinks! Then a mile more and we are at a restaurant! It's a half mile off the trail, but real food in the middle of  the day while hiking? I think this has happened only one other time, when my Sweety picked us up in Atkins, Va, about 350 miles ago.
Got to the restaurant and it began to rain- perfect timing. Ate the basics of a hiker- cheeseburger, fries, and milkshake. Need that fat! And calories.
Stayed around and rested til about 5 pm. Lovely afternoon. Hiked out and needed to go about 6 miles to the hut area. On the way a carful of folks drove by us as we crossed the Parkway and asked where the animals were. Told them we saw a rabbit.
Got to the Hut by 8, got dark, made dinner and in bed again late at 10  pm.
Along the way today by the campground met day visitors and they all were either astonished or interested in our thru hike. One child wanted to see our back packs. One woman asked how many days we'd been out- thinking maybe 4 or 5. I told her three months. She was quite shocked.
After a nice 3 hour break in the restaurant, and waiting out a little rainstorm, we hiked the 1/2 mile back
up to the trail and went on our way to the hut. Tunes has developed a pain in his ankle and had a hard time hiking to hut, which was about 5 miles. I felt very badly for him. When a person makes a commitment to the AT, it is a serious one taking considerable time and  money. Many quit their jobs, or make other life altering decisions to be out here. You really hate it when a medical or physical ailment threatens your hike. That's why I've aleady gone to see the docs 3 times since I left in March. Hopefully he will feel better tomorrow.
Got to the hut late again, ate in the dark and into the tent for the night. It been warm, but by evening it's ok to sleep. Really glad about that in late June. Hopefully , as we go north, the temps won't be too bad.



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