Episode 8: The ULTIMATE Catch-up (FOR REAL!!) Part 2

Did you miss me????? 🤓

Well, I missed YOU!!! And I finally have the time and the WiFi capabilities to fill you in on more of my journey – – – as much as I possibly can!!! Which means we have A LOT to discuss. About 150 miles worth, with tons of stories and pictures…..it may require a bit of a time commitment, in case you need to reconfigure your schedule!😛

So……..Are you in???? I AM, TOO!!! Let’s do this!!!!!!!!!!!! 🤗

Where we left off: Back to good ol’ Licklog Gap! Remember that one?? 😆 So, Licklog Gap is mile 121.7, in case anyone was curious about the timeline. And Cubed and I were really close to this “hiker’s paradise,” known as the NOC. It stands for Nantahala Outdoor Center and I had heard that it was its own little community! It has a restaurant/bar, an outfitter, and a General Store. It offers bunkhouses and cabins, plus it has rafting and ziplining…sounds pretty great, right?? I had no idea what to expect but I was really excited to check it out! Plus, rumor had it (and radar and forecasts, too!) that a gigantic storm was heading our way – – – constant rain equipped with possible hail storms, starting in the evening and going the entire next day. Knowing this, Cubed and I made a plan to get to the last shelter before the NOC, (which was a 14.1 mile trek), called the Rufus Morgan Shelter.

Throughout the 14.1 miles, we encountered a mix of emotional moments! We had extreme gratitude for the Trail Angels that provided amazing trail magic at Burningtown Gap! They were from the Burningtown Baptist Church and they were so sweet and generous! They provided tons of snacks, homemade cookies, juice, sausage and biscuit sandwiches – – you know, SUPER healthy foods 😛 – – and, as always, it is so touching to meet such lovely people who offer these things out of the goodness of their hearts! Just incredible!

Cubed and I then trekked up towards Rocky Bald. Now, we didn’t go to the very top, but I had to get a selfie with the sign, of course. Cue the “Rocky” theme song!! How do you not feel pumped after hearing that song???

Then we climbed up Wesser Bald to this awesome observation tower! It’s always a feeling of accomplishment because views like these normally mean that a hard climb came before it!! TRIUMPH!!!

Now, the climb DOWN from Wesser Bald was even more intense, with its huge rocks, boulders, and obstacles to maneuver around! At some moments I was a bit overwhelmed – – and kept turning around to take photos of the jagged and crazy rocks that I had just descended! But the views always make the trek worthwhile!

After all of that, we made it to the Rufus Morgan Shelter as planned. And guess what??? I saw my very first snake!! 🐍Luckily, he was minding his own business, slithering away from the shelter and very far from my tent!!

Cubed and I thought it would be best to camp at the Rufus Morgan Shelter because the NOC was only 1 mile away! We hoped timing would be on our side so we could sneak out of the campsite in the morning, during a break in the rain, (fingers crossed!) and quickly hike to our NOC destination. (And enjoy it for the whole day with a possible overnight stay due to the weather!)

And that’s just what we did! You know, there is something quite glorious about hiking double-digit days and then hiking a total of ONE mile to a really cool place. It was so great because it literally flew by!!! This super easy hike plus staying at the NOC made for a truly perfect day….even when the downpours began!

So, there are so many reasons why the NOC is one of my favorite places on the AT, so far. Basically, everything that I heard about the NOC turned out to be true!!! First of all, there’s a restaurant with amazing food that sits right on the water. Again, food is such a big deal!!!!

There’s an outfitter for gear swaps, changes, or additions. It always seems like you could buy something useful when you go into these outfitter stores….even when you seriously have everything you need!

There are $27 bunk beds that you can reserve, in these really nice and clean bunkhouses (which I can only speak for the ladies….gents, I heard the complete opposite for your bunkhouses, just so you know… 😷), which is an inexpensive overnight stay that includes showers!

SIDE STORY: When I first got to the NOC with Cubed, we paid for our bunks and went to our separate bunkhouses. I walked into mine and met two of the nicest girls who had already stayed overnight. One thru-hiker’s name is PBG, or Peanut Butter Girl, because she carried an entire 1-pound jar of peanut butter with her through the Approach Trail and up to Springer Mountain! The other thru-hiker’s name is Camel, because she brought 5 liters of water with her at the start of the trail, which is very excessive and not necessary with water being so prevalent on the AT. We got along really well and decided to go to breakfast together, which was so much fun!!!!! After that, we went to the outfitter, mainly to print out our permits for the Smoky Mountains, (because that was coming up!!!!!!). While I was there, I received a phone call from the NOC office, saying that they had made a mistake and that I was placed in the wrong bunkhouse. So, I had to run back to the office for a new key, head to the wrong bunkhouse to collect my things, and then move to another bunkhouse. It was a pretty good-sized pain in the buttocks BUT I ended up with my own room, which was so awesome!!!!

PLUS, I never would have met PBG and Camel if that mistake didn’t happen!! And they have become my hiking team since then because we work so well together and we walk at the same pace. Amazing how things work out the way that they do, wouldn’t you agree??

Anyways, another reason the NOC is such a fab place is because it really does feel like your own little town! It has this historic bridge that takes you to a closed-down restaurant that serves as a hiker hangout. Beyond that, you come to an adventure park for the kids, the facility for zip lining, and once you cross the railroad tracks, you get to the bunks or cabins!

Due to the storm, PBG, Camel, Cubed, myself, and many other hikers decided to stay overnight at the NOC to avoid the inclement weather. Now, this was my favorite part: to hang with other hikers and not have anywhere else to be!!! No need to rush off to keep hiking or to have a short conversation while passing by on the trail. Nope, it was a day of meeting so many thru-hikers, visiting with them, going to dinner as a big group of ten, and then hanging some more at that closed-down restaurant. It was such a phenomenal day, to enjoy the company of so many amazing people!! And DOGS, too!!!!

Thankfully, the storm had passed the next day, so Cubed and I headed out of the NOC to tackle a 3,000 foot climb of elevation over the course of 6 miles…which definitely had some pretty vertical sections but thankfully it was spread out over those six miles and wasn’t as “killer” as it sounds! Though it did require a lot of fancy footwork along the way!!

Cubed and I ran into Seth, PBG, and Camel on Cheaoh Bald at mile 145. We also made a new friend, Tangent, who was in full “hiker mode, ” loving the sunshine on the Bald. We stayed there for a bit and then continued our hike, ending the 11.6-mile day at Locust Gap!!

“Excitement” ensued the following day. Allow me to clear my throat for “Whammy #1″…AHEM….so, I was happily hiking away, when I decided to take a quick water break at mile 11, out of a 13-mile day. I took off my pack, sat down, and saw something claw-like on the back of my backpack. I then realized that my waist belt was on the ground! Somehow, the horizontal stay bar, that holds the waist belt in place, completely snapped! Not only that, but as I was hiking, the sharp edges of the broken bar were sawing holes and scrapes into the back of my pack!

Such a mess. I had to hike the two miles to the next shelter, called Cable Gap Shelter, without the hip support – which makes such a huge difference! – and wouldn’t you know that there was no service when I arrived???? I desperately needed to email ZPacks and discuss this situation with my Mom, of course. I had to search for service, walking an extra 0.6 miles, (all uphill, FYI 😛), until I finally had a signal. Again, I was at the mercy of cell reception! Now, I know that I’m in the woods and a phone is totally not a priority, right?? It’s a time to disconnect from the phone and the web and embrace the outdoors! BUT when your $350 ZPack backpack just broke after only 3 freakin’ weeks on the trail????? This was definitely an emergency situation!!!!

Sadly, (and very frustratingly!!!!) ZPacks only has an email to contact for customer service – – – there is no phone number to actually speak with a real person. So, with my Mom’s help, (due to my unreliable service and because she’s AMAZING!!), we managed to accurately describe the situation via email and ZPacks said that they would send me a new pack in 5-6 business days. Until then, I was able to remove the middle horizontal stay bar on my pack, which wouldn’t affect the structure of the backpack, and use that as a temporary fix for the waist belt. I was hoping that this would hold up until I received my brand-new pack. Do you think that it did????? Just wait for it…..story to be told later on in this post!

The next day, PBG, Camel, and I got up early to head to the Fontana Dam Shelter, which was supposedly the nicest shelter on the entire AT. And it really and truly seemed to be the best one!! I had never experienced a shelter that had flushing toilets, running water, a shower, a phone charging station, (that didn’t actually work but the thought was there!!), trash cans, a water spigot, and a nice backyard with picnic tables and a fire pit! There’s a reason this shelter is named the Fontana Hilton!!!

Ready for “Whammy #2???” Well, my Mom sent me another fabulous resupply box to a place called the Fontana Lodge. It was supposed to arrive on that very day. So, the girls and I went into town for lunch, laundry, and picking up these boxes. PBG’s was waiting for her at the Lodge. Mine was not there yet…I told them that I would check back at a later time and we left to take care of our other errands.

Fast-forward about 4 hours! I find out that my resupply Box was delivered to the wrong post office in Marshall, NC, ONLY 110 miles away from Fontana Dam……WHAT????!?! How does that happen when the address on the box and the receipt is correct but the bar code is incorrect???? Anyways, no food for me! I had to resupply at the General Store so my “resupply package” plan totally backfired….But I did see my first bear!!!

Okay, so I was working on my acting skills. It really was a very friendly bear, smiling and fake, standing in the General Store!🐻

On another happy note, we ate amazing food at the Wildwood Grill!! (And I got to relax with my feet up on this lovely day!)

When PBG, Camel, and I returned to the Fontana Hilton, it was a fabulous reunion with seeing familiar faces!!!!!!!! One of my favorites was seeing Danny, whose multiple trail names include Uncle Danny, Glove Box…which then shifted to Love Box….I’m telling you, trail names are so fun! In an earlier post, when I was still hiking with Michael, I mentioned hitchhiking back to Neel Gap from Blairsville, GA. And it was Danny and his family that picked us up!!!! He was picking up a few gear items at Neel Gap and then his family was driving him to the start of the Approach Trail. Before he left, he said that he would catch up to us. And here he was, at the Fontana Hilton because he totally caught up to me!!!

I also saw Ghost and Shambles, Cubed, Tangent, and so many awesome people that I have met and hiked with along the way!!!!!!!!

After this phenomenal stay at the Fontana Hilton, and taking advantage of all of the fabulous amenities, PBG, Camel, and I were ready to walk through Fontana Dam. We saw such stunning sights along the way!

And this trek through Fontana Dam took us right to the southern entrance to the GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK!!!! We had made it!!!!! We dropped off our permits and were on our way!

At one point, we had a great group of us traveling through the many ascensions of Day 1 of the Smokies! We all made it to the first shelter, (Mollies Ridge Shelter – woohoo!!), which turned into about a 12-mile day.

OKAY, so, here are some deets about the Smokies, in case you’re curious. The Smokies account for about 71 miles on the AT and usually takes hikers about 5-7 days, depending on how fast you’re moving. There is only one campsite spot on the AT, which means that you can only tent at that one spot. Otherwise, you have to plan your travels to end up at the shelters scattered along the Smokies trail. If a shelter is full, you can squeeze in with welcoming hikers or you move along to the next shelter. If weather is terrible, which is a commonality in the Smokies, then you can pitch a tent if needed. Bears are prevalent as well as boars and so every shelter has bear cables outside where everyone needs to hang their food bags up.

Keeping all of that in mind, we move onto Smoky Mountains, Day 2! Day 1 was all sunshine. Day 2 was all rain!!!! With a forecast of freezing rain and snow overnight! Check out the huge puddle in front of the Shelter – – it was pouring right when we left in the morning!

After our lunch break, we hiked up to Rocky Top!!! This was a very big deal because, back in the day, I had performed to the song “Rocky Top” with a phenomenal Carnival Cruise Lines dance cast!!! It was so cool to be there, in-person!! But I was kinda disappointed at the same time, to be honest. “Ain’t no smog or smoke on Rocky Top…” (Lyrics in the song!) Maybe not….But it was definitely foggy!!!!!!!!!

PBG, Camel, Love Box, and I made it to Derrick Knob Shelter, a 12-mile hike. When we arrived, the shelter was full, mainly because there was a leak in the roof and hikers were obviously avoiding that area!With the shelter being crowded, the four of us decided that tenting would be best. Since Love Box and I each have a 2-person tent, we decided to double up – – PBG with me and Camel with Love Box – – – to make the set up and take down process as easy as possible…especially because of the aforementioned forecast of a frigid overnight, with “possible freezing rain and snow.” And guess what we woke up to find???

Day 4: Frozen tents!!! It definitely had snowed last night, with a mix of freezing rain so our tents were extra-crispy! And it was SO COLD!!!!!!!!!! The four of us had to wait until the “shelter people” got somewhat packed up before us “tent people” could get started. I can’t even describe how cold my fingers and toes were…..it was pretty rough!!! Especially when I was putting away my frozen tent with numb fingers and I accidentally ripped a small hole in the tent door!! So, the door did get stuck in the zipper and I couldn’t tell how hard I was pulling to get the door un-stuck. BOTTOM LINE: Not feeling your fingers and trying to zip a tent is apparently a very bad idea! Oops!!!!!! Repairs will be made at a later time – – – yes, ANOTHER repair!!! WHOA, I hope nobody’s keeping track. (Oh man, I totally am!! 😳 But every single one has been such a weirdo circumstance!!)

Anyways, the four of us packed up to hike in the cold, with the temperature in the upper 20’s. Thankfully you really do warm up as you hike! And the ups on the trail were very welcomed because they warm you up the quickest! Here was our hiking foursome in the freezing cold on Day 3 of the Smokies!

We got to the first shelter, Silers Bald Shelter, to have lunch. Every one of us had steam coming out from our collars because it was so cold and our bodies were so warmed up from the 5.5 miles to the shelter! (That’s how freakin’ cold it was!!)

PBG, Camel, and I then decided to head 1.7 more miles to the next shelter and call it a day! Love Box wanted to put in more miles so he continued to hike but the three of us were so happy to have a short day!! We arrived at the Double Spring Gap Shelter and stayed there with an amazing group of hikers. Some of them started and tended to a fire for a solid four hours and we hung our disgusting wet socks by the fire to dry them out a bit! And we all did our best to stay warm. Seriously, we were all huddled in our sleeping bags before 7:30pm!!!!!!!

Day 5: It started off in the upper 20’s again but it wasn’t snowing or raining, which was so nice!!! It was just a lovely winter wonderland all around the shelter. Cold, yes, but not like Day 4….YET….just wait for it because we endured the craziest and most intense conditions on Day 5 of the Smokies!!!!

So, PBG, Camel, and I had a final destination in mind: Newfound Gap! First of all, it was 10.5 miles away. Secondly, Camel’s wife, Addy, was in town and coming to pick us up! Thirdly, it was time to experience Gatlinburg, TN!!! TOWN TIME!!!! Plus, within those 10.5 miles, we would hike to Clingmans Dome, the highest summit on the entire Appalachian Trail, which is also the 200-mile marker!!!! We were super psyched about that!!!! And so, we began our trek through the winter wonderland of the Smokies!

Which means that we reached mile #200!!!!

After enjoying the less than 3 mile hike up to Clingmans Dome in cushy snow, we moved on with our remaining 7+ miles. And this is where it gets crazy!!!!!! SO, the rest of the hike was mainly downhill. There were tons of trees lining the trail on both sides. And with the weight of the snow on the branches, we had snow-filled tree branches in our faces for a few miles! Now, I’m pretty short at 5’2″ and this is the first time that I had to consistently watch my head when I was walking! And EVEN STILL, a majority of the time I couldn’t duck low enough and the branch would hit my pack, dousing me with snow!

THEN, it started to slightly warm up as we were hiking, moving the temperature into the 30’s. That sounds good, right?? WRONG!Because of the increase in temperature, the ice from the tops of the trees started falling off, pelting us with huge tree ice cubes! Then those ice cubes would fall into the water we were sloshing through, making it a total ice bath for your feet and ankles. Oh, there’s more! Then the freezing rain started on top of all of that!!!!!! I seriously have never been so cold in my life. I don’t think the three of us ever moved so fast in our lives!! We were like trail runners, trying to avoid hypothermia, (because fingers and toes were questionable!!), and we were also trying to get to Newfound Gap as quickly as possible. I have ONE photo after Clingmans Dome….and after that, my fingers were frozen and it was a race to the finish!!!

When our trio arrived to Newfound Gap, it was literally in the 50’s, with the sun shining. Some people were even wearing shorts!!!! It was like the twilight zone and I got the strangest looks from people because I was soaked and wearing so many layers and head covers! It was pretty funny!! If only they had received a three-hour ice bath, then maybe they would understand, you know??? But it was INSANE to go from freezing rain and snow to sunshine in just minutes, when entering this Gap!

It was then time for Gatlinburg, TN! Camel stayed with Addy and we were dropped off at the Sidney James Mountain Lodge, sharing a room with Love Box and Skittles. It was awesome because this Lodge had an indoor pool, a jacuzzi, and a SAUNA!!! The four of us went to dinner with fellow thru-hikers and then a couple of them came back with us to enjoy all three options!!!

HUGE SIDE STORY: As the four of us were walking back to the Lodge from dinner, Skittles asks, “is that a dog?” There, in the parking lot of our hotel is a BEAR!!!! Just calmly roaming around, acting comfortable like he had been there before, and trying to avoid all of the people (including us!!!) that started to appear to take photos of this moment! Isn’t that crazy???!!!! I saw my very first REAL bear in a parking lot!!!! Not on the trail, in the woods, in the Smokies, where bears are supposedly “everywhere”…..NOPE! He was ambling along in the parking lot where we were staying. SPOILER ALERT: This was the one and only bear that I have seen, even after crossing the Smokies and up until this very day! I did manage to get one photo of him! Not the greatest shot but we didn’t want to crowd the bear so it was the best that I could do! Notice the guy in the red shirt and ALL of the people on the second floor! It was very busy and we didn’t want the bear to freak out!

Exciting stuff, right??? And in case you’re wondering, the bear did not freak out. He just ran away when he had the chance. And as we were entering the main building to take advantage of the pool/hot tub/sauna, we saw THIS sign and realized that Mr. Bear was a regular!

Day 6: A zero day in Gatlinburg, TN! And what a busy day it was! PBG and I took the trolley, a $0.50 toll every ride, to stop at stores, the post office, the grocery store, and a bit of walking around the town…which was mainly to stop at a Ben & Jerry’s for ice cream!! (Oh, yes, I did and it was delicious!!!!)

When we returned from our errands, Camel and Addy came to pick us up for a road trip! We were headed to Pigeon Forge, TN for a dinner date at the Paula Deen Restaurant! (It was an all-you-can-eat affair!! A total splurge!! YUM!!!) And I had no clue that Pigeon Forge was so hoppin’ and touristy…Did you???? Maybe I am SO late to the party, which is entirely possible…..But it was like a Carnival, with everything lit up at night, (like a Ferris Wheel!!), tons of people, lots of little shops, and even a lit-up fountain display! Who woulda thought that Pigeon Forge was the place to be?!?!?!

Do you need nourishment, a nap, a potty break, after all of that reading??? 😝

As you take any needed breaks and stretches, I would just like to say THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!!!! Sharing this journey with me and taking the time to read my blog, a.k.a. Scrapbook, a.k.a. NOVEL!!!!! It means more than you know.❤️❤️❤️

OKAY, we’re BACK at it!!!!!! Update Central!

Day 6: Back to the Smokies! Addy drove us back to Newfound Gap to resume the trail. It was sunny and lovely again!

Day 6 provided an array of memorable moments! (Both good and not-so-good!!) We hiked to Charlie’s Bunion and took such great photos with the spectacular view. We ran into Sloppy Joe (a.k.a. Jordan, who I had hiked with before!) and had lunch with him at a helicopter landing site. We passed by a plane wreckage of a WWII-era plane that crashed in the 1980’s…yikes! We also passed through Camel Gap – – – Our Camel needed a photo session with the sign, of course!!!!

And here’s the not-so-good memorable moment. As I was hiking to the Cosby Knob Shelter, after a 13-mile day, I THOUGHT my pack felt really heavy on my shoulders…

Look familiar??? Yup, it most certainly happened again. You knew it was destined for the same result, right????? Ohhhh, so did I…..Thankfully, we met new friends at the shelter, which just made my day!!!!! And they have the best trail names: Frank the Tank and Chadillac! They were on the AT, prepping for a big Colorado hike!

AND my new pack was being sent to the hostel we would be staying at TOMORROW, called Standing Bear Farms. I almost made it, guys!!!! Sooooo close….and yet so far. I still had to walk 10.5 miles with my pack like an unsupported backpack all the way to the hostel.

But we got this!! Any obstacle that comes our way, we adjust and make it work, right???

SO: Day 8 of the Smokies and beyond! It was mildly rainy all day. (Isn’t it nuts that every single day on the Smokies was a different weather condition?!?!?!!) And I trekked and made the best of my backpack situation. PBG and I were a duo because Camel left early from the shelter to get to Addy and spend extra time with her at a B&B.

PBG and I were told that a side trail to the top of Mt. Cammerer was totally worth it. So, we dropped our packs and hiked the extra 1.2 miles, round-trip, for this insanely-phenomenal view! You never think the views can get any more gorgeous…and then THEY DO!!!

PBG and I carried on, took a lunch break at the Davenport Gap Shelter – – the only shelter in the Smokies to have a bear cage at the entrance! – and then we finished the last miles of the Smokies!!!!!

It was then time to hike to Standing Bear Farm and hope that my new backpack had arrived! I took lots of fun pictures of the signs, buildings, dogs, hens…Standing Bear is a very unique place!

And the moment you were waiting for………….I got my new pack!!!!!!

I then had to ship the damaged pack back to ZPacks. Gadget, one of the staff at Standing Bear, helped me to fit the pack in a large priority box, equipped with cut-up cardboard and duct tape. There’s a reason his trail name is Gadget!

After the overnight at Standing Bear Farms, I got to experience the magic of slack-packing, courtesy of the marvelous Addy!!!! Slack-packing is when you give the bulk of your gear to a person/shuttle, take only what you need for the actual hike, and then meet up with that person/shuttle at a said location to collect all of your things. It makes the hike glorious because you shed 20-25 pounds immediately! AND WE GOT TO DO THIS!!! It was the perfect day for it, with lots of challenging uphill climbs on a very foggy and damp day! The moments of rain and even hail we had didn’t phase us TOO much as we were hiking with our super-light packs!!

It was such a fantastic day that kept getting better and better – – from slack-packing on this challenging and very uphill section to listening to music on the trail for the first time in a month!!! It was seriously the best feeling ever, jammin’ to awesome beats as you walk! (And I totally listened to Hamilton, because I love that musical!!! It was fantastic hiking music!!😃) All three of us were hiking to tunes and lovin’ it!!

THEN we happened upon the most amazing Trail Magic ever!!!! Tim and Mark, the Trail Angels, were set up at Brown Gap making homemade french fries, (which they sliced and prepared on the spot!), hamburgers, hotdogs…and they had beer, whiskey, cookies, fruit, water, you name it! AND they were planning on staying overnight and doing a gigantic breakfast spread in the morning, too!!! Incredible and so generous, right?!?! It just blows me away!! I had to get a photo with these kind and amazing Trail Angels!

After being very full on trail magic food and snacks, we had to trek on and meet Addy at Max Patch Road to retrieve the rest of our gear. Slack-pack day was such a treat!!!!!! I felt so spoiled!!!

Camel then went with Addy, to spend one more night and the following day together. PBG and I continued to hike a bit more to end our 13.7-mile hike at Max Patch, a Bald with another insanely-gorgeous view. We were told that this was the perfect place to watch the sunset and the sunrise. And so, we decided to camp at Max Patch to witness the sunset and sunrise beauty!! We didn’t stay on the Bald because it was knock-you-down windy but we tented just past the Bald, along with quite a few fellow thru-hikers!

It was a fabulous decision to camp here because the sunset and the sunrise over the mountains from Max Patch was UNREAL!!!!! The most unbelievable sunset and sunrise that I had ever seen!!

And now for the sunrise from Max Patch!

After thoroughly enjoying our time on Max Patch and being up so early to watch the sunrise, PBG and I had a huge mileage day! We did 16.6 miles and got to the last shelter, Deer Park Shelter, before arriving in Hot Springs, NC – – – the next town! The special thing about Hot Springs is that it is the very first town that the Appalachian Trail actually passes through! PBG and I were really looking forward to it!

It felt really great to kick up our miles and get to 16.6!!! And it felt REALLY great to wake up the next morning, knowing we were only 2.8 miles from Hot Springs!!!!!

PBG and I had a smooth hike into town, where we met up with Camel, stayed for two nights, and had a spectacular time…But I will provide the Hot Springs stories next time!

Yes, this post/FREAKIN’ NOVEL will be coming to a close! Did you cheer??? I totally understand….whoa, baby, that was long!!! But what an update!!!! Hot Springs, NC is mile 274.9 so we made REAL PROGRESS!!!!!! I hope you took time for meals and perhaps coffee….or maybe WINE OR BEER, if you made it through this whole post!! ☕️🍷🍺 Or maybe you require a particular beverage right now!! 😄🤪

As always, I appreciate you and I send you so much love from the AT!!!! Talk to you all again soon. 💖💖💖