Stayed at comfort in for 2 days taking a zero day 2 days ago. Didn’t plan on it but as I was getting ready to check out noticed I no longer had my tent stakes. Maybe I threw them out by accident when I thought I was throwing out trash. On that day I had trail magic but a family of 7 who hiked the AT with a kid I think of 3 on his fathers back. Had corn dog, salad and a coke. I had seen a YouTube video on the family and they now have a book out. Piper enjoyed some of the corn dog. She has settled into the routine nicely sleeps in the tent and most people love her. Kind of a celebrity occasionally will bark at a man, she is leashed to me while hiking.At camp I let her run around but have a electric toner on her to get her back if needed. Many people give her belly rubs and scratches on her back. She never complains about putting her backpack on. Falls asleep easily on trail. At camp she will chew sticks and sometimes has the zoomies. I think she is enjoying herself. Only saw one other dog on 2 occasions who is thru hiking a mini Australian Shepard from Boca Raton, dog doesn’t seem that friendly. Yesterday saw a large beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog and I think of Lola often. Miss her. Last night after a long hike set up the tent ate my freeze dried dinner got into the tent and it was freezing. Then started raining didn’t sleep well and got a late start hiking. Hiked yesterday with Elizabeth my best buddy and met squash who is 28 and just graduated University of Minnesota Med school and found on a zoom call she matched her first choice for peds in Austin Texas.Good luck with medicine now a days!! Lots of characters hiking some one named shark tooth who was yellow blazing and gave me a shark tooth for good luck. Another guy takes pictures and has a drone. Today started out cold but became a nice day and night. Got to the NOC big out door center with white water kayaking zip lines etc. Camping tonight in a non official site with my trail family consisting of 3 young woman Two-Fer, Squash and Elizabeth(doesn’t have a trail name. She is 24 yo and an amazing young woman. Also a young man forgot his name but from Reading PA a Mennonite, Very nice guy. Scenery is beautiful open ridges. Running ahead of schedule to meet Michele. Great experience finally feeling comfortable the trail equals everybody from their previous lives. Now goal is hiking north getting supplies camping filtering water. In a way a simple existence but physically demanding. No outside worries no TV no news. Hopefully will stay healthy. Hiked about 150 miles with another 2050 miles to go. Take it day by day don’t think about how far to go, Different terrain then NH mountains are high but trails well maintained and gentle. Not rocky and trails have switch backs unlike NH. No tree line here tops of mountains sometimes called balls just grass may have been cleared by Native Americans to attract game animals and a I believe the forest service may cut the grass to keep trees from filling in. Wild flowers are coming out. Signing off for now Gold Rush

3/22/21 Spent a great night camping down by the river at NOC. Got up late dried things out. At NOC charged electrical devices. Bought a Diet Coke haven’t had one in a long time some ice cream made some phone calls. Lots of thru hikers and people taking white water rafting trips and kayaking. Began hiking around 1:00 PM with steady beautiful climb from 1,732 feet up to 4,710 feet incredible views of the Nantahala Gorge. Didn’t see any hikers until the top and the Sassafras Gap Shelter was busy so camped just below it. Hot in the valley temps maybe in the 70’s but once getting to campsite it cooled down a lot changed into dry warm clothes. Piper sleeping in tent no issues now. Currently at mile 143.8. Only 22.1 miles from Fontana Dam where I will meet Michele leaving Piper because no dogs allowed in the Smokies.Have over 4 days just to get there so it will be easy. Wish she could meet me sooner. Plan is for her to pick Piper up and I will hike fast thru the 71.6 miles so I can spend time with her before she flies back to NH.