Quit raining during the night per the forecast. Enjoyed sleep in as I decided to not ride today. Let the body recover from yesterday and enjoy clean bike 1 more day.
Made scratch pancakes & ate last of WVA maple syrup.
Cleaning up when a string of cars drove out of the mtns. Last 1 stopped and chatted. 2 women, the passenger gave me cookies. The driver was the one who rescued the lost dog from several weeks ago. We thought it was a hunting dog that got lost. She posted lost dog but no claim. She said she found a family for her. They are trail runners and have been driving past my van all these days. Friendly conversation.
Where I have been staying for almost 2 weeks:
Avery Creek looking upstream short walk from camp:
Drove out of forest to Dollies & called Dad for Christmas wish.
Decided to hike up Looking Glass trail to test out knee fix. Beautiful day: Brilliant blue sky, no wind, temp in low 60s. Humped up trail. Popular one. Glad not bike trail from all the roots worn exposed from all the foot traffic.
View from top of rock was spectacular:
Parkway is viewable in upper right corner. Guy thru hiked the AT in 2002, carried 70# pack, trail handle was Heavy D.
back @ Dollies hanging. Even WalMart is closed.
Off to Greenville, SC for ride @ Paris Mtn. Might continue S to FATS.
Knee worked well on hike up. Still a bit of age old pain hiking down. Called Kim to give treatment feedback and to keep file open because I might swing back thru here for another go.
Movement is slowing down as I am staying out of the snow down south and no frentic schedule to meet.
Watched another disc of Ken Burn’s Civil War last night. Featured Sherman’s march to the sea and the devastation his troops wreaked on the civilian population. He knew that they were responsible for supporting the rebels so his solution was to lay waste to everything in his path to deny resources. He was not liked @ all.
Back to woods.