Day 12; Mile 109.8
I’m lying in bed on a cold, wet Sunday morning as we wait out today’s rain in Franklin, NC. The weather generally has been more wintery than not, about exactly what I left behind in Cape Town. I can’t wait for it to warm up!
Having crossed both my first state boundary, from Georgia into North Carolina, and passed the 100 mile mark, I feel I’m making progress. My shin has almost healed, and I’m easily managing 16 mile days again. Hopefully I’ll do my first 20 miler this week.
The worst of my homesickness also seems to have faded as Trail life becomes more routine. 2000 miles and 4 months is still very long, and I don’t really know how far I’ll walk – my feeling on that tends to change about 3 times per day – but for now it’s good to be walking.
The people you meet on the Trail are at once quite unusual, but also surprisingly normal (which ptobably is true of most people most places). I’m now sharing a room with Sunshine, a guy from New Orleans who recently sold his share in his business. Last night we had supper with Loon (or maybe Lune?), a grey-haired multiple thru-hiker who seems to know everything about every inch of the Trail, and some friends of his: Mofo Man, Cruiser, Windchime and Tank.
Trail names are surprisingly effective. Not only do they increase the sense of adventure, but on a practical level they’re much easier to remember than people’s real names. Most hikers seem to be men, either young (twenties), or old (fifties amd sixties), with probably as many section hikers as thru-hikers.
Shelter life: making food, resting, chatting…
Taking a midday break, lying on my back listening to music
One of the prettier views I’ve come across
Outside Plumorchard Gap Shelter, which had no less than 3 levels of sleeping areas inside
Waiting for a (serendipitous) ride into Franklin yesterday
Sunshine and I enjoyed a coffee and Scrabble game in the Rathskeller, a gorgeous little coffee shop/bar/bohemian hangout. The kind of place you want to be a local at.
7 Comments
Fantastiese fotos, Linsen! Net wat ek oor gewonder het toe ons gesels het. Dit lyk darem heel gesellig (in die aande ten minste). Baie liefde, ons 3 xx
Liewe Linsen,
Hou van jou update stories, sommer baie. Die foto’s maak dit lewendig en hou mens se pols op die realiteite van wat jy ervaar!
Die trail name … Laat my telkens glimlag.
Stuur liefde… IRIZE
PS: One Step at A Time!
Gewonder waaroor mens sou skryf as jy vir 5 maande stap – maar dis actually nogals interessant! Keep it up ;)
NS: Hoop jy haal gou die 20 myler!
J’aurais adoré prendre une petite noisette (espresso with one drop of milk) dans ce café bar!
Des bises!
Living ya adventure through your stories and photos. Take us along;)
Ek sien jy’s amper in Tennessee…good for you! Sterkte en groete van ons almal.
Beautiful view. I like the sound of Rathskeller.And be careful what you wish for re: the heat!
I assume the mosquitoes haven’t bugged you too much in the cold? Is it all as you imagined? Wishing for the Tsitsikamma instead?
Sending you lots of love and many thoughts