I never got to talk to Richard last night and I was a little sad. So I got up and walked up to the payphone at 6:30 a.m. this morning (in my pink long johns, boots, and fleece jacket, no less) to call him. I was glad I got to talk to him. Ate some pancakes at the Riverside Café (that place is awesome and so nice to hikers). Met a couple in their 60’s yesterday from Flint, Michigan (the Flintstone’s, of course) and ran into them this morning. I hear, "There’s Pee Wee!" and it was them. Felt like family. Ms. Flintstone noticed my chapped lips and said hers were too. Mr. Flintstone said it was because of how we breathe through our mouths on the uphills. I said, "Oh, you mean huff and puff and gasp for air?" They just laughed. Caught up with Little Ted at the NOC. His trail name is "Longstride." (Little Ted is a very tall young man). It was good to see him again.

Missed Tumbleweed and Brown Tiger. Too bad. Somebody said last night that Tumbleweed is 68. I keep hearing rumors Aloha’s still only a day ahead. I finally got back on the trail about 10:00 a.m. I told Topher he should be Sugar Bear instead of Sugar Daddy. The other day we were thinking about calling him Fozzie Bear because he had a Muppet song stuck in his head. We’ll see if Sugar Bear sticks.

Well, about two hours into the woods I got my first real "Oh, Shit!" attack. I look up and there’s a man dressed in green camouflage with a rifle walking towards me. Grown men in campo are scary enough at home in Texas, let alone in the NC woods. Anyway, he moved off the trail to let me pass and I smiled and said, "Do I dare ask what you’re hunting for?" He said, "Turkeys … ya seen any?" I said no, that I was from Texas and knew what turkeys looked like. Jiff and Eggman were not far in front of me and Sugar Bear wasn’t far behind.

It has indeed been all uphill, but it’s pleasant. Lots of good switchbacks. Vegetation change again. Yesterday and today are thicker, denser, greener. This afternoon I’ve really just poked along and enjoyed it. Tree tunnels, lots of green moss on rocks that look like they were up heaved bazillions of years ago with trees literally growing in the cracks of the rocks. I kept expecting King Louie from Jungle Book any minute. Looks like his palace. Then I thought about that song of his ("I’m the King of the Jungle, the Jungle VIP. I’ve reached the top and had to stop and that’s what’s botherin’ me …"). Yes, I’m a Disney kind of girl. Trouble is, I can only remember a couple of lines from that song, so they’ve gone over and over in my head.

Same small, what I would call boulder fields, to hike through. Definitely go slower and plant my feel a little more deliberately. I think the weight lifting before I left did strengthen my ankles, just should’ve done more of it! Well, getting a little windy and chilly, so I guess I’ll put my boots on and go on up. Don’t think it’s much further to the top.

I thought I was at the top so many times and wasn’t, that I finally quit counting. Camping tonight on Cheoah Bald and hoping it doesn’t rain.

Sugar Bear, Longstride, Baltimore Jack and Snakecharmer are here. Jiff, Farmer Bob and Eggman went a little further. We all sat on a rock outcropping and watched the sun go down.

Jiff has a horrible spider bite on her rear. Trying to get her to go to a medical clinic and get a shot of cortisone or something at Fontana Dam.

Saw notes in the register at the last shelter from Aloha (said she had seen Featherweight and Lightfoot), Tumbleweed, Pacific Joe, and Canine. Good to know they’re all still heading north. I slept better last night – would venture to guess it was because I was clean!

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