Steve the Cook




Trail Magic - The James Family


13.6 miles - almost at 900 miles - 1 mile to go. Hiked in rain before lunch - did not get to wet thanks to the thick leaves.

Stopped because of trial magic....HOT DOGS, JUICE PACKS, CHIPS, CANDY,BROWNIES (very good)-from a boy's family-Chris, Tom, Jane,son Ryan/Bryan who played rugby at college and the captain of the team was from South Africa- daughter "Trail Dancer"- Son in Law "Willy Goat"-that does blue blaze trails in the park. They maintained the Saddle back Mt trail of the A.T. today. Trail Dancer and Willy Goat had a 2 wk honeymoon last December in South Africa. Willy Goat has thru hiked the trial twice and Trail Dancer once. It was very nice and pleasant to relax and visit with them about South Africa - but it kinda made me homesick in a nice way.
They allowed us to pitch our tents at the maintenance shelter.

My new tent leaked - had 2 nights without any problems - now I need to seam seal it. I am sitting in my tent with my rain jacket on! We will be stopping at Big Meadows Campground-Wayside to do laundry and seam seal my tent.

Yesterday we tasted our first blue berries - there were only 4 that were ready - very nice and sweet. The blackberries are full of berries just not ready yet. The flowers that we see most in the park - Fly Poison - very pretty but really poison. Saw some Saxifrage, Indian Pipes - see lots of dead flowers - Greybeard tongue - Spider wart - Columbine. Not a lot of flowers still around but the ones that are - very pretty.

Now.....I am going to see how dry I can stay for the night. Have fun we do!!!