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AT chores eat up my time – not much time for my personal time….re-organizing, re-supplying, and re-packing my stuff before hitting the trail. We climbed Roan and Hump Mountains for past couple of days. It was a good climbing despite my slowly recovery from a bout of respiratory infection. We are going back on the trail today to hike toward Damascus, VA. We anticipate that we will arrive this Friday night or Saturday. We plan to have a ZERO day there. If you live nearby and are available to meet us this Saturday in Damascus, VA, please do use “Contact Us” right away. I may be able to check Internet tomorrow only. Take care, y’all!
We are going to get back on the trail today hiking toward Roan Mountain in few days. I am starting to feel better, so I am going to take it easy. Have a wonderful holiday weekend, folks!
I suffered six days with a bout of respiratory infection since I left Hot Springs last Thursday until last night. It started out as scratchy throat on Thursday and Friday. I stopped by hostel on Friday and asked for medicines, but they didn’t have it. Shoot! I went ahead and hiked to the shelter. On Saturday, I hiked on top of the ridge of the mountain and got caught in rainstorm. I got wet. I put on my rain gear after finding a place to do that. However, I ended up having a fever and coughing in afternoon. On Sunday, my coughing became worse to the point where I coughed up some sputum. My throat hurt like hell. It was so hard on me trying to climb the mountains while breathing "like straw" through my mouth and nose….I was laboring. UGH…..I just perserved to hike to destination despite the situation. On Monday, my chest and throat hurt. My fellow AT hikers that I hike with said that I can hike ahead to get myself to Erwin a day earlier to get a medical attention and have Ad-Cane to hike with them. Ad-Cane and I discussed and agreed with that arrangement. On Monday, I hiked 16.9 miles in a day for 7 hours – I ran downhill whatever I can! Upon my arrival at the Uncle Johnny’s hostel, Glenn took care of me very well. He let me to get myself cleaned up, grabbed dinner, then dropped me off at the hospital. The doctor said my lungs sounded clear. Whew…but, had to do the x-ray to cofirm that I do not develop pnemonia. The result came back and it was negative. Whew! I got the medicine for my coughing. Today, I feel a bit better….coughed hard once last night which was a big improvement. I got a honor of meeting two hikers – father and daugther – to chat about hammock when they recognized my brand name hammock – Clark Jungle Hammock. They are proud owners of them! 😎 They told me about their family business in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati area – Mr. Cowpie’s Party Animals . Check it out if you live that area. They were so wonderful to chat with. Today is my ZERO day….taking it easy with my poor throat, lungs, and body. More updates coming soon….I am going to hop on lunch shuttle bus to Erwin to fetch myself a meal to chow down! 😎
We got a lift from a wonderful couple – Angela and Lamarr E. – from Damascus, VA to Hartford, TN….right back to where we left off before going to Damascus for Trail Days. It was a trail magic….and they were our trail angels! It wasn’t easy to find a ride especially when we are Deaf. Besides that, we enjoyed meeting people and events at Trail Days. I bought underquilt from Jacks R Better vendor….I finally was able to sleep comfortably in hammock without getting cold and hardly wink at nights! It added 14 oz to my backpack. My hip and feet were complaining while I was hiking from Hartford, TN to Hot Springs, NC, so I have to re-evalute my backpack. However, taking zero days for a week was not a GOOD IDEA!!!! I missed trail so much….and it was harder to go back on the trail and deal with pain all over again. Please shoot me…well, better yet, slap me in my face if I ever pull that stunt again! 😎
Anyhow, we are in Hot Spring after hiking ~15 miles a day….will rest a bit here for today, then go back on the trail tomorrow for a week hiking to Erwin, TN. As usual, Internet access is limited here. Stories have to wait. 😦 One thing – Roger had another accident on his same hand (between ring and pinky fingers on webbed part) this last Sunday, but at this time, we didn’t have to go to the hospital. LOL The accident was not related to hiking. He is fine and uses his hand ok.
Take care y’all and please keep the messages on this blog coming. BTW, for people who do not know sign language and Deaf-Blind fellows, my apologies in advance that the vlogs from youtube.com are not currently subtitled in English due to time constraint. We plan to add subtitles after AT, so everyone can enjoy watching the vlogs.
Adventurous Cane, Golden Ray and I decided to leapfrog from Hartford, Tennessee to Hot Springs, North Carolina then finally in Damascus, Virginia – “The Friendliest Town On the Appalachian Trail” – to attend Trail Days (www.traildays.us) for next few days.
We stayed in Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a night after arriving at Newfound Gap which is half-way of GSMNPS (Great Smoky Mountain National Park Services). I am sorry that with limited internet access and pager’s power/signal, I am not able to share stories with you all for past few days. One thing I can share with you right now is that we saw a black bear hanging out on the tree yesterday. It was awesome view! It was captured via videos and photos. Hope it can be posted in a few weeks. We are going to hike to Davenport Gap then onward to Hartford, Tennessee for 3 – 5 days. Until next time, folks!
Whee! We passed 150 milestone! We are now at the shelter in Fontana Dam. We stayed at Hike Inn in Fontana Dam last nite. Gosh…..their services were impeccable! Jeff & Nancy Hoch, owners of Hike Inn, went out of their way to make sure we are well-fed, cleaned-up, and well-rested. They did laundry of our clothing including folding ’em! They also took care of our boxes by shipping them out. Gee! Andrea, their hand-helper/driver, was a such sweet angel who drove us to Mexican restaurant to have a delicious dinner then to ATM to replenish our cash, and at last, at food store to re-supply our food for hiking through Great Smokies. Andrea’s son, Bill, knew ASL, so he joined along to review his signs with us. It was so nice to stay at Hike Inn….especially 2 cats – Shasta and Catzilla – who love to be spoiled by hikers. Lol
So right now, the storm is brewing on my left….and the sun is setting on my right……I am facing south with the fire pit going on with people mingling. Like a ying yang….balance of storm and calm and I am center of that fire pit – warm and safe on line. Mmmm……for next few days, the forecast called for either isolated or scattered thunderstorms or rainstorms….it is tough call to leave shelter and hike out to next ones….we will decide at short notice to make a go either tomorrow, Monday or Tuesday…. Wait and see. My feet are gradually improving….not in excruciating pain anymore. Nantahla River blessed my feet with its cold and refreshing water and took away some of its pain with it. Before Nantahala River, I thought my hiking days may be numbered….but, now it is no longer a factor, but I have to keep close watch on my feet along with my foot doctor’s advice in mind. Descent is still hard on my feet….take one thing at a time. Anyhow, I better get going to preserve the battery on my pager. It may be long time before I get online as we are to hike 72 miles from end to end of Great Smoky Mountain National Park – perhaps 8 days of hiking plus some side trail visitation especially Shuckstack Tower and Clingman’s Dome. Catch ya next time. RamSham signing out.
AT DeafBlind Dream 