After having a wonderful visit with our friends Sue and Jim in Virginia, Lynn and I still had several hours of driving to get to the Appalachian Trail. We reached the area in the early afternoon but had trouble finding the obscure trailhead on a dirt road. We finally realized we were victims of a relo and found the trail further up the road. After 2 and a half days, I finally reached my first white blaze. I was exhausted already!
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I remember this type of bog bridging from last year.
It is covered with ani-slip, wire mesh which your shoes can really grab.
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Mountaineer Falls Shelter
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Someone is skillful with a chainsaw.
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I started a new state today. As my GPS track shows. I hiked into North Carolina for a few minutes today. Further south I will zigzag back in forth between the two states for nearly 200 miles.
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Up some log steps
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One of the largest waterfalls on/near the AT is Jones Falls.
The falls were a tenth of a mile off the trail, but I found the falls nearly dried up.
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Rain Man and his daughter, Patricia - Section Hikers
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I think I'll run a while. I've got to build up my running muscles for the end of this trip when I have two 30+ mile days in the Smokies.
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Over a style
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The only bridge of the day
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Once I reached the highway, I had a 1/3 of a mile walk to Mountain Harbour Bed and Breakfast. This was recommended to me by a hiking friend named Millie. Thanks Millie! This is a great place that offers an affordable hostel to hikers. Lynn and I would be staying here for three nights. The hostel was located above the barn.
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Lynn loved watching the horses.
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I was a little nervous at first.
The hostel was located above horses and goats, but it didn't smell like a barn at all.
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I met Poet, Hippy Chick, Free Will, and Mr. Jay (not in photo).
I gave the four of them a ride up to the local diner.
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It was great to be back on the Appalachian Trail. Lynn and I slept well, but a couple times during the night we heard a loud noise and thought the barn was going to collapse. This happened each of the three nights we were there. We learned just before we left that there was a Billy Goat in the barn with a bad attitude. He would get upset and headbutt one of the barn walls.
