We woke pretty early this morning because as soon as the sun came up it turned our exposed tents into an oven. I went back to the "Appalachian Trials" tent and talked with Zach. Before the trail I'd reached out to him about exchanging some work for prep. I'm a software engineer, so I built some small apps for him and helped out with the website and in exchange he helped prep me with virtual shakedowns and answering questions. We had a good chat and shot some ideas back and forth while I helped him break down his booth.

When I was living in Nashville before the AT, my friend and roommate, Nick, had said he wanted to come out to visit me on trail at some point. After Trail Days he drove to Damascus pick us all up and hike with us for a week. He showed around midday and we all packed into the car. We had to drop off the Bullet, Blue, and Marley back where they'd hitched into Trail Days which was about 10 miles behind where Nick and I would start. Since the day was late and we wanted them to catch up, Nick and I hiked only a mile down to a campsite right near Laurel Falls and waited out the day. The water was absolutely freezing but Nick and I swam anyway. It was nice to feel clean again after Trail Days.

I'm working through a lot of the feelings I've been having toward Blue and I wanted to have the chance to tell her tonight. However, it was well after dark that Bullet, Blue, and Marley showed up. Blue was in a really bad mood and I didn't know why. I decided not to tell her tonight so I'm a little down about it but I know in time I can.

Today was a frustratingly short day. We hiked only about 8 miles and took a break during a thunder storm at Watauga Lake where they had a pavilion with power outlets and tables. Unfortunately we got stuck there for the night because the next few miles were closed to camping for high bear activity. Blue (or Sarah as I now call her) and I hiked together and I finally opened up to her. We both shared some heavy stuff from our pasts and it felt really nice that she was able to open to me. She seems really reserved and not the type that would tell you her personal life. So in a way I felt special that she opened up. I told her about my feelings and part of me feels bummed that she's not interested right now but the reality is that I'm not interested in anything either. One of my goals I wrote before coming out here was to remain single so I could focus on myself and working through what I needed. I think I'm just spending a lot of time with her and it's making it hard to not have feelings. Either way, I feel a huge pressure lifted off me for telling her. She took it really well. From now on I'm going to try to focus on just being friends.

It's also been really nice to have Nick out here. He's having a great time and seems very in his element. I'm glad he's a part of this with me even for a short time.