Derrick Earls, More Heart than Scars tackle the AT together and in Spirit!: Day 26, June 10, 2014

I got started at 9:11 a.m. McAfee knob was beautiful. IHOP and I kicked it up there for about 30 minutes. It reminded me of when my mom and I did it 6-8 years ago. Mom do you remember when we were coming SOBO and we thought the many views before were McAfee but it ended up being the last overlook? Good times! I saw 2 big deer muncheon on vegetation on my way up.

I went on to Tinkers Cliffs and enjoyed my mtn dew from the previous days trail magic. I also had a nice snack and the views were spectacular.

Further past Tinkers Cliff I saw a garner snake and later a rat snake trying to get a chip munk. I messed up the rat snakes lunch by moving him out of my way so I could pass or saved the chipmunks life whichever way you prefer to look at it. I completed a total of 17.8 AT miles and called Homer at 6 p.m. to inform him of my arrival to Daleville at 7 p.m. I walked down to the Howard Johnson and found my hiking sticks. Thanks to the farmer Mr. Lucas! He had left me a voicemail saying he had returned to the trail and hollered for me in the woods and took them to the 4 pines hostel. What a nice man! I met up with Joe and Catherine at 6:45 p.m. while I waited on Teresa Witcher. They had zeroed twice at the Howard Johnson. (The Howard Johnson was where I found my poles and met Joe and Catherine. They also had like 15 hiker packs in the lobby lol. These individuals were out slack packing. Slack packing is when you basically take a day pack. You do big mile days and come back to your pack all in one day. While slack packing you can go opposite directions instead of the way of your normal thru hike. For instance, if I am a thru hiker going North, I could have someone take me further north of my last end point and hike south to my pack.) Evidently Joe and Catherine had come down with the Noro Virus last week. Noro runs it's toll for a day or two but basically dehydrates you by having diarrhea and vomiting. I hear it's not fun at all. It definitely doesn't sound fun. I hope to continue to avoid it! Some things I have implemented to prevent viruses and bacteria include: always ensuring my mouth piece on my bladder is not on the picnic tables or lying on the shelter floor, when possible eat without touching the food by using the package, vinegar or use hot water to clean my water canisters when possible (in town or at motels), keeping my cooking pot as clean as possible after eating meals, etc.

Teresa picked me up at 7 p.m. I helped her grab the mowers from the previous nights mowing and AT trail maintaining. We arrived back at their house and she cooked a splendid dinner. Corn on the cob, red potatoes mashed, rotisserie chicken and strawberry short cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. I completed the dishes as a means to earn my keep! I watched the NBA finals and was disappointed with the Heat! Should be a great NBA Finals! Go HEAT!!

I went to bed and it was amazing. The shower was great and we all did a joint laundry run. Thanks again Homer and Teresa you guys are superb!