March 12 - Dicks Creek Gap to Bly Gap - Hello North Carolina !

 Left the motel on the first shuttle about 9 AM with Snowman, Escargot, and Dixie Grits and began the climb up out of Dicks Creek Gap. Snowman and Escargot took the lead and I was behind them for awhile until I couldn't keep up.  It was a climb out of the gap - as usual.

It was this kind of morning

From all the rain  yesterday, the trail was soupy.

The trail

Parts of the trail were like walking in a stream ....

After a couple of miles of hiking, I passed this camp site.

Interesting ...

Heard a farily loud voice say "Coming through !"  This man passed me.  Then he took a break to eat something; he passed me again and then stopped to remove his jacket and passed me again and this time I spoke to him.  He stopped and turned around. I asked his trail name and he replied, Saber. Told him I'd heard about him -- he's hiking fast and doing 20 mile days. He hopes to reach Katahdin in July.  Saber retired from the Army after 20 yrs. and this is his retirement gift to himself.  He was a Cavalry Scout and thus, the name, Saber. He has two crossed sabers on his hat.  He asked my trail name and I said PrayerWalker. He was surprised to meet me.  He had read my trail journal before starting his hike.  We took pics of each other and he practically "ran" down the trail.  I know he'll make it to Katahdin.  God speed, Saber !  Thank you for your service to our country.

Saber

Ice dropping off trees

This was kind of strange.  A BIG wind started to blow and it looked like it might storm but you could see the sun trying to peek through.  Then the clouds began to blow away ....

Sun trying to come out

To the right the view was as above as the wind was howling and to the left the view was as below. Never experienced anything like that.  A man hiked up behind me and said "Did you just see that?"  I said "Yes." He said did you get pictures and I said 'Yes.' He took pics too but didn't know if they had turned out.

Clouds begin to blow away

After the winds and the clouds - a perfect day.

Needed a little break and this rock formation provided a good seat for me.

I stopped here and rested on a rock

Thought Snowman and Escargot were in front of me but they had stopped for water and lunch

Bottom signs read Bly Gap - my destination for the night

Looking up  - border of Georgia and North Carolina

I let out a big shout when I reached the NC/GA border

Kissing Georgia "goodbye" for now ....

Sean from New Hampshire (now the Patriot), Irish, Owl and Chickadee (Aunt and Niece) welcome me to NC

What a day! Made it to North Carolina. I was surprised to see Sean of New Hampshire along the trail; I thought he was way ahead of me. Blisters have slowed him down. Now he has a trail name, The Patriot. Irish a hiker from last year named him because of the hat he was wearing. I had read Irish Charm and Falling Turtle's journal from last year but she had to leave the trail early because of her diabetes. They were married on the trail last year. They started again this year and I had hoped to meet them. Well, I met Irish but Monkey (her new trail name for 2013 had to leave the trail because of diabetes but she'll be back soon. As I approached the GA/NC sign, Irish, The Patriot, Owl and Chickadee (aunt and niece) welcomed me to NC. I let out a BIG shout of celebration; don't think I could have smiled much bigger either. The Patriot took pictures. Shortly thereafter, Chin Music approached as did Collette and Ryan from Minnesota. Stopped for the night at Bly Gap. Snowman and Escargot went on to Muskrat Creek Shelter but I knew I could not make it that far; I was pooped--9 miles was all I had in me!. Collette and Ryan and I were the first tents there, but lots more drifted in before night fall. Dreamer, Socks and Charlie arrived. Again, it was very windy and was going to be a cold night. Cooked dinner easily with my home made cat can stove. I'm tired but happy to be here!  Didn't come out of my tent to sit around the fire. I was a hermit.




A flyover of the trail from Dicks Creek Gap to Winding Stair Gap -- and a great song !



This is a video made by Dreamer and Socks; I traveled this stretch of trail with them (almost always in back of them). You can see me in back of Dreamer early on the in the video. They have an incredible blog at The Path of Most Resistance