Day 61 - 5/01

Daily mileage: 18.2
Total trail mileage: 786.4
Starting location: Marble Spring
Ending location: Punchbowl Shelter
Weather: hazy all day, 65 degrees in the morning, 75-82 degrees during
the day

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.678288,+-79.338902

Climbing up Rocky Row Mountain today was torture. My hardest climb on
the trail so far. It just wouldn't end. I am not sure if the
mountain itself was bad or if being eaten alive was the primary reason
for the pain. I didn't know there were black flies in this area, and
I saw my first couple ticks for this trip. Ugh.

Oh, apparently the flies aren't accidentally flying into my ears.
They are determined to do so. I was wearing my bandana and put the
tail of the bandana in my ear to deaden the buzzing a little bit and
to prevent the bugs from flying in. I could hear a bug repeatedly try
to get past the bandana and into my ear.

Before the climb, I made it down to the road pretty quickly and had a
soda that someone left in their pickup for us. I was there with Shlep
and WallEye. Then two runners show up (who passed us earlier going
the other direction). The one suggested that we try Ultra Running
when we finish. It is trail running races and he just did a 50k race
last weekend. I might try to pick up the sport of trail running when
I am done but probably won't try to do races.

After that I walked a little further and came up to a really nice
stream. So, I stopped, rinsed out my clothes, and soaked my feet for
a good long while before continuing. I stayed there for close to 2
hours and read some of my book. Rinsing off did little good as I am
already covered in bug guts again.

I am now at the shelter with Tuney, who is just starting out his "Cool
Breeze" hike. It involves a double flip flop, but allows you to avoid
the really cold weather and the really hot weather.