Day 88 - Friday, June 11, 2021

The forecast has improved somewhat 🎉 . It rained during the night; rain is expected to continue on/off throughout the day. But temperatures are supposed to get near 80 so it will be a warm rain 🤬. 

Today we are continuing from Flatrock Gap (30.2 NoBo) to Gooch Gap/Cooper Gap Road, USFS 42 & 69 (16.9 NoBo) equaling 13.3 miles 

We began hiking at 8:45 am under partly cloudy skies; it was already 67°.





I read if you put tape on around the top of your socks with the sticky side out it would catch ticks going up your legs. It did catch a few other bugs, but no ticks today. I also sprayed my lower legs above my socks with deet 😉.




Some type of Wren or Sparrow. The mother came flying off her nest inside when Turtle Power got too close. 


Entering Blood Mountain Wilderness.








Finally had some scenic views as the cloud cover dissipated. 





Turtle Power paying off one of the meals he owed me. He had a McDonald’s Happy Meal delivered to the trail.... yummy 🤢








The Blood Mountain Shelter.


A group of day hikers from the Atlanta area. They haven’t met a thru-hikers before so they were interested in our hike and we’re asking us questions. We got their attention when we first walked up to them and I said.. “ now here’s a group of our future Senators and Congresspeople” 🤥🤫🙄.



Descending off the back side of Blood Mountain (lots of bedrock).


The history of Blood Mountain with the Cherokees and the Creek Indians

 Blood Mountain



Shoe Tree in front of Neel Gap.


We finished hiking at 3:25 pm. It never did rain but it was very humid. High for the day was only 74°, nowhere near what was predicted. 

We are doing our approach hike to Springer Mountain tomorrow to set us up for reaching the Southern Terminus first thing Sunday. This will be an enormous milestone in our journey!! 


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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