Derrick Earls, More Heart than Scars tackle the AT together and in Spirit!: Day 60, July 14, 2014

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Day 60, July 14, 2014

15.8 AT miles.

I left the pavilion and arrived at Quarry Gap Shelter. I met up with plenty of my AT friends to stay awhile til noon. The shelter was marvelous and the landscape beautiful. The rhododendron blossoms on the ground as I approached the shelter were picturesque.

I ate a quick lunch at Birch Run Shelter. I hydrated, grabbed a resupply of water and pressed on. I finally had someone to push me mileage wise. Tuna and I did a four mile an hour pace or maybe even 8 miles in two hours. We were booking it!

At about 3:30 p.m. rained settled in til my arrival at Toms Run Shelter around 5:15 p.m. I arrived at the official halfway point for 2014 drenched. Hero took IHOP and my picture. What an ecstatic achievement!

Toms Shelter was a neat place with a soothing stream running in the distance. Evidently one of the shelters burned down in 2013. There were 12 people at camp and 5 of us slept in the shelter. They also had a nice covered pavilion that allowed us to dry multiple people's clothing.

I whipped out my fire making abilities and started a fire. We found a few pieces of dry wood under the shelter and I had some extra toilet paper. Tuna and Hero also assisted. I dried my boots the best I could.

Tuna found a baby ring snake and grabbed it. It was a foot and a half long. I asked if I could hold my first snake ever. He said sure and I felt like a boss :)! Everyone but Tuna and I went to sleep.

While Tuna was heading to his hammock for sleep Hero said in a concerned voice from his hammock, "hello!" "Who's out there?" I died laughing and Tuna said what's up. We both laughed forever and realized Hero was sleep talking :)! We shared the story with many others and begin adding to the story. We had people dying laughing as Tuna shared the story and added, "Go away you bear." And also, "Momma, please help!" Hero is hiking with his mother Honey Buns. They are two amazing people and they have an excellent sense of humor.

The fire was nice and I slept sound.