Day: 7

Random Thought of The Day:

I swear they are putting these rocks here on purpose! I should have brought a leave blower. Hey, I’m at the 50-mile marker!

Yesterday’sYesterday’s Goals:

To walk another 15 miles to a lake. It appears there are hardly any water points between here and there. Hopefully, there will be some cache at one of the road crossings.

Activities of The Day:

The day started with a beautiful sunrise.

 This morning sunrise

A hiker at the campsite hiking southbound stated there was some water cached a few miles ahead at a road crossing. That is excellent news because I am out of water! A few miles down the trail, I found a water point with a note that stated this was the last water for the next 15 miles! I knew about this when I left yesterday, so I had gotten an extra bottle of water. I now have three liters of water on me.
Yesterday and today, I have been walking past these incredible rock formations. Yesterday, I told myself walking on top of those would be cool.

There are a lot of these rock formations

UM NO! After today, those rock formations can stay away from me. I am positive that there are hundreds in between here and Canada. I can tell you right now I don’t like them. Some are easy to get across, and others are just tripping hazards for this guy. I cannot tell you how often I twisted my ankles or tripped today. These rocks are out to kill me, I swear! If that weren’t bad enough on the trail, leaves would cover these rocks. I’m lucky to be alive, I tell you! As I was walking, I saw this mountain sticking up above the treeline. I hoped that was on tomorrow’s list, but knowing I had several miles to go, I knew it was the next mountain to climb.

What is that?

After climbing said mountain, I came across some power lines. The view was incredible!

Sorry the treking pole strap is in the way

What felt like miles and miles, I came to another fantastic viewpoint. While sitting there, I looked at FarOut to see how many more miles I had to go. Well, it turns out that I was looking at my reward for walking 50 miles!

50 mile mark view

I sat at the 50-mile marker for a long while. I shared the pictures with my sons. My family discovered I was on this walkabout the other day, so I shared the occasion with them. Once I started walking, I kept telling myself six more miles, six more miles, and then I could rest. Well, I made it 3 miles; 430 is my quitting time. Once I set up my tent and started cooking my dinner, I saw the sunset. I raced to call my youngest to Facetime with him. He enjoys sunrises and sets. I am happy that we got to share this moment.

The sunset my son and I shared

I have one and a half litters of water and about three miles to the lake. It is now seven, and I am all tuckered out.

What’s what’s Ahead:

In the morning, I will have a short climb and then a decent down onto the lake, where I will resupply on water and then head down the trail through Porter’s Gap, about 8 miles down the trail. From there, I will either hitch or call a local hostel, Green Hippies, for a ride to town to resupply food. Of course, while in Talladega, I’ll eat something good from somewhere. I will go there if it is required to spend the night at the hostel for a shuttle. If not, then I will be coming back out to the trail to hike some more.

Goals:

Get water! Go to town and resupply, eat some good food, and then take the rest of the day off or hike some more.

Stats:

Weather: 65F
Mileage of the day: 13
Mileage on Trail: 53/330
Days on Trail: 7
Number of Zero’s: 2
Number of Nero’sNero’s:
States: Alabama
Trails completed:
The good: Hit the 50-mile marker!
The Bad: The Bad: Rocks! Leaves!

Thank you for following along!