Phew! Quite a walk today following yesterday’s 16 miles! We were planning on doing 10 or so, heading for Fontana Dam on Monday, but we made great time and are thinking we might get there by Saturday. That will require a few more 14-mile days in a row, however.

Rainbow Springs was a nice, warm place to stay. 15 dollars bought a bunk and a wonderful shower, as well as 1-mile ride back to the trail this morning.

We’ve been gaining elevation the past few days, summiting the somewhat technical Mt. Albert yesterday and hovering around 4,000-5,000 feet much of today. Clingman’s Dome is visible in the distance from the fire tower on the top on this bald. I say “on top of this bald” because that’s, in fact, where we’re camping tonight. It’s probably not where we’re supposed to camp, but it’s late, we hiked 16 miles, we’re not hurting anything, and it’s beautiful!

We still haven’t seen any animals bigger than a rabbit! Tumbling Joe & Rob were taking & walking the other night and disturbed an owl that had just started feeding on a duck. The duck had a gray body, black head, and white beak markings and yellow/blue legs and feet. No idea what kind of duck that is. Anybody?

My knee continues to improve—now just fighting the little aches though my feet, legs & back, but loving walking almost normally again. My appetite is increasing steadily—I’m never full anymore! I eat a 400-calorie breakfast (preceded by a candy bar if it’s cold enough)., snack in the morning, 500-calorie lunch, more trail mix & energy bars in the afternoon. Then 800-calorie dinners with more snacks. And I’m losing weight! Welcome to the AT diet!

Ok, the beautiful sunset’s fading. I’ll be woken around 2am by cold since we’re expecting 20 degrees and then again around 5:30am by hunger if this is like most recent mornings!