Watauga Lake Shelter
Today started early and well. Last night SnackBreak whipped up one heck of a meal and for breakfast she made a repeat appearance! French toast and quiche enough and then some for 14 hungry hikers. After that fine breakfast I settled down and resolved to catch up on my journals. That took me a good long while but finally I finished them around noon. I looked at my foot and the heel was still raw but was improved since yesterday. I think I may have another week before it is going to be up to a hard hike and bandage free but until then I think I can cover some reasonable distance if I take it easy and pay close attention.
Meanwhile everyone else left early trying to make the easy 50 miles to Damascus quickly. I took off with Bowser at around 1 P.M. and we hiked together all day. The first part of the trail was flat but soon we found ourselves in the bottom of a gorge looking up at 
Laurel Falls, a wonderful sight. Then we strolled along the gorge bottom along the idilic Laurel Creek. Along the way there was evidence of one seriously busy beaver with dozens if not hundreds if trees with gnawed bases near the river. After that it was a stiff climb and then easy up and down that would charterize most of the distance between here and Damascus; gain 200', lose 200', and repeat. 
The day ended with a decent into lake Watauga and around it shores where the shelter was to be found. We rolled in early, about 5 and I used the extra time to make an effort to finish my book "In a Sun Burnt Land" since I have been hauling it around for the last 5 weeks. I am spending the night with the Goats, Big Gulp(whom I will now call a Goat), Ninja(ditto), and Bowser.
1 comment:
So who are the goats?
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