Day 86 - Wednesday, June 9, 2021

We are staying in an old l that hot; but like I said it’s in a good location 🙄. Mediocre WiFi, who’d ever think WiFi is a basic rental requirement now LOL! Especially since we are usually so remote, cell phone coverage is not good. 

It’s right next to a horse farm where you can literally stick your hand out the kitchen window and you would be in the horse pasture but there’s a rule in the renters guide not to feed or pet the horses - I did both. 😂🤫

Today we are hiking from Indian Grave Gap, USFS 283 (55.2 NoBo) to Hogpen Gap, GA 348 (38.2 NoBo) equaling is 17. 0 miles.

We had a late start and began hiking at 10 am. The temperature was already 68°. Skies were overcast and it was very humid 😓. 





Checking the Trail Designation- see, we’re going in the correct direction 🙄.




Meet “Jack”. Jack is originally from the Pittsburg, Pa area and skied at Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Ellicottville, NY. This is one of Jean and mine most memorable vacations so we were very familiar with Holiday Valley when he mentioned it... Now for the rest of the story- Jack has lived in Georgia for over 30 years and hikes sections of the AT several times a week. He also used to be a trail maintenance volunteer for over 10 years. He had bilateral knee replacement 10 years ago. Prior to that, Jack had ACL reconstruction on his left knee. Jack’s a very active man - he is also 84 years old! So all you armchair quarterbacks better pick up your daily routine 😂. And to think, Jack was impressed with our adventure- Kudos Jack! Don’t stop trucking!!


Local cascading falls.



More rhododendron tunnels or “hells”. It’s amazing how cool it stays under the trees canopy.



It was inevitable... today was our 81st hike without seeing a single tick. I had two on me but the deet stopped them in their tracks. These are deer ticks, not as harmful as Lyme tick. And yes we checked each other for ticks at the end of the hike- we have been the last few weeks since it’s gotten warmer and the vegetation is growing near the trails edges. 




See, I like rain now 🙄. And just as a follow up , Turtle Power is growing a tail not a dorsal fin 🤫.



AT trail plaque. 


We finished hiking at 5:55 pm under cloudy skies; it was not raining then. The temperature did get up to 77°. 


Till next time... Happy Hiking  🥾 

😋


“You gotta have passion for life and passion for something that you're going to get up and do,".    

                                Meredith “Sunny” Eberhart  

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