Starting location: Wayah Shelter
Ending location: NOC
Miles today: 16.3
Miles total: 135.0
Today was another great day with sunny skies and 80 degree temperatures. We got a little bit of an earlier start today around 7:45am. Much of the day was downhill but we haven't quite figured out whether we prefer the uphills or downhills. Uphills can be very physically demanding but the downhills destroy your feet and knees.
After the long, rocky, steep drop into the NOC both of our feet were on fire. After years of doing heavy miles days for track and cross country, my feet have never felt this way. The first thing you want to do when you get into town is to take off your boots.
The NOC is a small white water rafting outpost. It has a restaurant, pub, outfitters store, general store, hostel, and several cabins. When we first arrived into the NOC, Day Tripper, Kristen, and I were hanging out by the general store when a guy came up to us and asked us if we were thru hikers. The truth is, most people can spot out thru hikers a mile away because we are very dirty and smell like crap. We told him yes and he immediately run across the street toward us, hastily riped open his 12 pack of beer and offered us a beer. We happily accepted.
After Kristen and I made arrangments to stay in a cabin for the night, we headed over to the restaurant for dinner. The restaurant was set right on the river and had a neat outdoor sitting area. We asked them what they had on draft and sure enough PBR was the only thing on draft. I am not complaining but just think it is funny how popular PBR is down here.
After dinner we ran into another thru hiker named Torch from TN. Torch had been hiking southbound from Maine all winter long and he was only 130 miles or so from completing his thru hike. As you can imagine, Torch was a little out there. He had a military issued pack and sleeping bag that rated for 30 below. He was working on a tight budget of 125 dollars a week and was running low on food. Kristen and I decided to do our own trail magic and gave him our left over food.
We will be taking the day off tomorrow to rest our dogs.
The NOC
Kristen and Day Tripper
Conan + Backwards
4 comments:
You both are doing awesome! Keep it up so I may live vicariously through you. Love the nicknames by the way.
Hey guys! I LOVE keeping up with your exciting trip through the blog, thanks for the updates! Hope the AT is treating you well. I am living vicariously through you from my little desk here :)
Keep the posts comin'
rest those dogs! we miss you guys so much!
Been whitewater rafting many times through Nantahla-beautiful place!
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