Day 64

After two very sweaty days, we were back to waking up to near freezing temperatures. “Hello stinging cold fingers while rolling up the tent. Been a while.” LOL! It was a windy and cool day today but the sun was bright making it a nice day actually. After a steep climb out from the shelter, the next couple miles were on an abandoned logging road, which I’m always happy when the trail is on an old road like that. It makes for easy walking as the grade is gradual. After a little over 11 miles, I made it down to Brushy Mountain Outpost. I was looking forward to this place! The burger, cheese fries and ice cream really hit the spot! After doing 11 miles and looking at how much of the upcoming trail is pretty void of water, and since it could reach freezing again tonight, I made a last minute decision to walk approximately 4 miles off trail down to Bland, VA and grab a motel room. I made it about a mile down the road when a fellow hiking enthusiast stopped his car and offered me a ride. Saved me about 1 1/2 hours. It was much appreciated. We don’t like doing too many off trail miles. LOL! There’s a mom and her 3 daughters here at the motel that are going back to trail tomorrow as well so it looks like we all have the same shuttle at 7am tomorrow. That outpost does breakfast so I’m looking forward to having a nice country breakfast there and then hit the trail again. Oh, I have to add I saw my first snake today. It was a small garter snake. I didn’t get a video fast enough so I only got a pic of his tail as he disappeared into the leaves. Now I’m going to think all roots and sticks are snakes. LOL!