For every up there is a down.....

I was blessed with sunshine and amazing views through the park, which was shortly followed by lots of rain. Even the best rain gear can only keep ya dry for so many hours. You hike on: trekking through puddles, watching rain drops fall from the brim of your hat, squinting through speckled glasses, trying to make out the next white blaze marker through the fog, wondering how many more minutes before you can eat your next poptart, longing for the wooden shelter sign to appear and thinking of nothing but being inside your sleeping bag! So go the rainy days...

They too are part of the journey and the good old memory making. For those reading at home looking at pictures of awesome views and wishing you were here.. Know that it's not all blue skies ;)

The first town in which the trail actually goes through is Hot Springs, NC. I stayed in an old Victorian home built in 1840 with a lot of character. I enjoyed a hot shower, bed with linens,and great hiker company. (Two of the guys working here are from Bard college... Small world!) I got some laundry done, grabbed wifi at a local coffee shop and had a killah buffalo chicken sandwich at the local tavern! Full, happy, clean and dry... Til the next town....

And here comes the rain...

And there go the mountains!

Meet Apple! He is retired and now spreads trail magic year round. On a cold,wet day he fed us donuts and coffee. I indulged in three!!!!!

So appreciative

This depicts the shelter which we tried to block the gusts of wind and rain by tying up a rain fly! Not sure if it was the rain on the metal roof, the flapping of the tarp in the wind, the orchestra of snoring or the sound of mice feet that kept me awake that night:)

I love my sleeping bag!!!!

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Meat and cheese... Dinner of champions!!

And then we hit town!!! This is in the sidewalk marking the trail.

Great food and company at Elmers hostel.

And for a night out on the town...

That's all for now... Time to hit the trailhead! Thanks for reading.