Erwin, TN/ Bristol, VA

I've lost track of days! I'm not sure what number I'm on. Four weeks yesterday!

Day 28: April 18

Weather: partly cloudy 

Miles travelled: 12.8

Total miles on AT: 287.2

We started the day with breakfast with Twinkle Toes. Papa (his dad), his mom Lisa, and Breakless before heading out of  town. 

A lot of the day was uphill and I felt really heavy and slow most of the day, probably  because of the large breakfast. I weighted my pack just before I left town and it had gained 4 pounds in a few weeks-- It was 27 pounds fully loaded. I added camp shoes and a sleeping bag liner and a bluetooth keyboard and some other little luxury or essential items that added up to a heavy pack.

I tried to stay close to Twinkle Toes and Papa for the hiking, and we ended up camping a couple miles past the shelter, which was really nice because it was quiet and calm and not many people were around. I was trying to dry my socks (I fell into the creek getting water, whoops) and burnt a hole in one of them. I liked the queit and solitude a lot and slept very well. 

Day --: April 18

Weather: Mostly sunny, partly cloudyy

Miles travelled: 20

Total miles on AT: 307.2

We had issues getting the bear bags down and ended up resolving it with Papa climbing a vine to unhook them. We had a long day ahead of us after that, as we were trying to get to Erwin (about 68 miles from Hot Springs) by Monday afternoon, giving us four days. Monday was Papa's last day on the trail with his son.

Most of the hiking was ordinary, like the days before, but a couple miles of it were incredibly rocky and slow going.

We made it to the shelter early enough to snag spots for all three of us and Rylee (Twinkle Toes' dog), and talked to all the people hanging around as we set up and ate and lounged around. One guy, Graze,  got his name because he eats all the time. He eats at least 400 calories per hour, plus huge meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner. He's 6'5" (I think), lanky, and has gained 3 pounds on the trail!

Day --: April 19

Weather: sprinkles in the morning, afternoon and evening drenching

Miles travelled: 18.9

Total miles on AT: 326.1

I slept poorly, and felt smashed between people so much that I couldn't roll over without running into someone. When I woke up, it was sprinkling lightly, which continued the whole morning. We went up a really nice lush valley but I didn't really want to take many pictures because of the rain.

I stopped taking any pictures at all when it really started raining around 1pm. I was soon drenched, slipping uphill in mud, and chanting to myself in my head "rain, rain, go away, come again some other day." It didn't work though, and rained through the night. Walking was miserable. Most of the time, if we were talking, it was to complain to each other. We went up a summit at about 5500', which had been cleared at some point and was incredibly windy. The rain was coming down sideways and I was being blown off the trail. Twinkle Toes loved it, for some reason, while I cried tears of misery. 

Naturally, the shelter was full so we had to tent. As soon as I was set up and warm and dry and full of hot soup, I felt much better, and slept wonderfully in spite of the rain, knowing that I would be in town the next afternoon. 

Day --: April 20

Weather: morning drenching, afternoon sunshine

Miles travelled: 16.8

Total miles on AT: 342

I woke up to rain. Again. It wasn't so bad knowing that we'd be dry soon however. It was still really difficult to get out of my sleeping bag to pack up because it was so cold. My fingers were numb for the first half hour of walking, but we were all walking ferociously in spite of the rain, trying to make it quick. 

The rain stopped a couple hours in and the sun soon came out, cheering us up tremendously and the miles went by quickly. Before we knew it, we had made it. Twinkle Toes and Papa had invited me to Twinkle Toes' grandparents' house with them, an offer I couldn't refuse. Good company and food? Of course! I hesitated because felt bad though, like they only invited me because I'd been walking with them. 

Twinkle Toes' grandparents live an hour away in Bristol, VA. They picked us up and we went back to their house to dry our gear and wash clothes and take care of all our hiker needs. His grandfather explained to me how Bristol exists for the two big NASCAR races that happen annually in the town. It is also the birthplace of country music because a couple country musicians first recorded in a studio here. It's a cute little town with lots of unique charm and churches on every corner. 

It's back to the trail tomorrow, after this lovely break. I'm not sure if Twinkle Toes and I will continue hiking together once Papa is gone. I think I want to put in more miles than he does, so I might leave him fairly soon. It's been nice to have good, steady company.