Update August 2, 2017                                     

Tonight I am staying off the trail so I can buy food for another few days, shower and do laundry.  I am staying at the Black Bear Resort which is located on the Dennis Cove Rd. mile marker 1771.4.  I am now 418 miles from Springer Mountain. 

Nephew dropped me off in Damascus on Monday.  He flew in to the home town from NYC last Sunday afternoon and picked up a truck he has bought from his dad.  Since he was traveling north for a job interview to be held on Tuesday in PA, he agreed to drop me.  It was so good to see Nephew again and to have that time to visit.  We made some pictures at his parent's house on Sunday night that I know we will enjoy in the future.

I started hiking at mile marker 1719.7 at 8:44 on Monday morning and arrived at mile marker 1771.4 today, Wednesday the 2nd around 4:30.  Along the way I crossed into TN.  

  On Tuesday I hiked a ridgeline that looked down on the Watauga Lake.  The number of trees that are down along that ridgeline was amazing.  They have obviously had a lot of bad storms hit this area in the last couple of years.  The first night I camped in the Double Springs Shelter   

  and the 2nd night I pitched my tent near the Wilbur Dam Road at MM 1758.4.  That road leads one down to the dam of the Watauga Lake, which I walked across this morning.  I ate a late morning snack at the small sandy beach area of the lake at 10:30 today.

There was a sign at the Watauga Lake Shelter which said it was closed due to Bear activity.  However I have not seen a single bear since leaving Damascus.   

I want to give a shout out of thanks to the counselors of the Wilderness Trail which is a ministry based at Troutdale, VA.  I ran into 3 of their groups over the last 9 days and they were very kind and generous to me.  They shared food and water with me and made 2 of my days much easier as a result.  I camped with Michael and his group last night.  I haven't sat around a camp fire with a group of American teens in many years, so last night was a treat as I listened to Michael lead them in a discussion that would help them to debrief what they are learning and experiencing as they hike on the AT. 

This afternoon I hiked by the Laurel Falls.  What an outstanding sight.     

   I asked some ladies to use my phone and take a picture of me in front of them, but I will not be able to send Ron the picture to use in an update until later. 

Within the next 2 days I will cross over Roan Mtn. and I am looking forward to walking through that environment.  It is bad that I will not see the area when the rhododendron are in bloom, but I'm just too late for them. 

Uncle