I’m tenting tonight within reach of the famous Bly Gap Oak. This gnarled specimen marks the Georgia/North Carolina Line and the feel of its roots on my left hand tell me we’ve finished walking though our first state! Only 13 more to go, and North Carolina only has 300 miles of trail!

We got an early start in Hiawassee this morning: collecting our mail drop, sending home journals, camera memory card and unneeded supplies, and replenishing the fuel for our stoves. Ken gave us a lift to the trailhead and we were walking before 11 AM.

D & I had a good walking conversation with Eric and Paul. They’re out for a 2-day hike; Eric’s been hiking the area for 25 years and gave us some great advice. Paul’s an MD and passed along a few days of anti-inflamitories to help with my slowly improving knee. Thanks guys!

There’s a thunderstorm rolling in from the west right now. Lighting is flashing every few seconds and my tent is starting to flap in the rising wind! I’m hoping I can stay dry because a cold snap is supposed to be following this storm.

We’re camped with Rob & Robin, Tumbling Joe (I thought it was Cumberland Joe, ‘til he explained the fall he took down Blood Mountain). Eric & Pack & most of last nights crew: Chris, Anna, Emily, Brian, Kim & Chris.

Here comes the rain – I’m bunking down.

6 AM: What A Night! That rain came into my tent like water thrown by the hull of a fast boat. It took one minute for me to realize my main door was facing the torrent, so I reached out and knocked down the vestibule pole. The wind plastered the wet flap of sil-nylon over the leaking windows – but not enough – there was still a tiny gap and water continued pouring into the tent.

I spent an hour alternating between using my pack towel to bail and dump water outside the tent, then gathering my sleeping bag tight, trying to stay on my floating Therm-a-Rest island to stay warm and dry! The stormed passed quickly – perhaps an hour or two at most – but I must have bailed a quart of water out of here! Once I was sure the rain was done, I took about 20 minutes to finish drying the tent out thoroughly (except for the bottom of the sleeping pad. That was soaked). My sleeping bag picked up a bit of water but hopefully the heavy winds that have continued through this morning will help it dry. It’s 45 degrees now and light is dawning, Wow!

Hey – what’s for breakfast? I’m hungry!