Very windy night and I thought the tent might fly away. Thunder was nice and no lightning bolts hit me. 10 bears tried to get my food from inside my tent (in my dreams). Woke early and packed up quick, finished as the rain started again. Walked in rain all morning. Good uphill section to 5000 feet. Going down was lethal with the wet path. You had to place each step to stop slipping. Got to Clyde Smith shelter. Tenting again to dry it from last night. Snow forecast in the next few days.
Super 8 motel didn’t have a great breakfast but I ate everything anyway. Then went to McDonald’s for second breakfast. A lazy morning in town. Resupply and headed for the trail. I thumbed a lift from an IT guy who works from home. Erwin has 1 gb broadband because there is a processing facility for nuclear rods for submarines!!!! I was wondering what the watch tower was there for. Maybe I should have asked for one to power me up these steep climbs.
As I headed up the trail I remembered I have nothing for breakfast for the next 5 days!! Just then there was a sign for water sports centre. I diverted off and I saw sign for ice cream, nice to cool down. They had none because they really only get busy from memorial day. May 29th, I had to google that! BUT they had a campsite kitchen and they said anything left was fair game. I found a large container of oatmeal, wahoo, breakfast sorted. They do a days whitewater rafting, I was so tempted. I’m here to walk and not get diverted. If I visit Viv in a few years I’m heading to Erwin to go whitewater rafting.
As I write this, after setting up my tent, it has started to rain. Lovely days hike in the sun and now in a dry tent listening to rain. At least it will get rid of the midges. They seem to like Irish blood. Oh it’s just chained to thunder right overhead. I hope my tent isn’t the highest thing on top of this hill. I’m now camping when I feel like stopping. I used to always go from shelter to shelter. But with no privy’s anymore it doesn’t seem so important. The only thing is that I’m on my own, me and the bears!!!
Though for the day.
Heavy burden.
As I leave town my pack is always to heavy. I struggle to lift it on and then I know it in my knees and legs. I won’t go hungry but I need to be more conservative. That got me thinking of what heavy loads we bare in every day life. We have the burden of raising kids, some would say it’s a joy but it depends what age the kids are. The burden of getting older. The burden of holding a grudge. The burden of withholding forgiveness. Once we know the burden of sin being lifted off our backs by Jesus then we can also bring these other burdens. I think sometimes we like keeping the burdens. We say it’s the cross we have to bare. Rubbish. The only yoke we need is the one Jesus offers, and that one is light. If your yoke/burden is heavy bring it to Jesus and he will replace it. Please don’t get me wrong, some do suffer and struggle but let’s check that it’s not our stubbornness to offer it to Jesus.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
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| 200 carriages, they do them big here. |
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| Thunderstorm. I think that tree is higher than me!!!! |
What a night. rain on a tin roof is hard to sleep with, add snoring and farting (well that was me), I slept as well as expected. Left early to get to Erwin. No rain most of the morning, then light showers. No waterproofs needed. Booked motel and got cloths washed. Went out for Mexican dinner, delicious. Thumbed back but had to walk a mile on tired legs before I got a lift to the door.
The shelter last night is the last for a while with a privy. It’s now dig your own hole.
I discovered the reason TN don’t have privy’s. The moonshine boot legers used to disguise their stills as privy’s so there is a law than band privy’s. It’s never been repealed!!!!
Thought for the day.
Isaiah 30:21
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”
I haven’t gone badly wrong yet. The marking in TN aren’t great. I know some people go 20 mins down a wrong path before realising. I have fairly good sense of direction but it’s nice to see the blazes to reassure you. I haven’t heard a voice yet but I know he keeps me safe. Sometimes we do turn of the road of walking with Jesus and then the Holy Spirit does talk to us to get us back on track.
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| Glory to God |
Thoughts for the day.
Narrow way.
Someone wrote in the shelter logbook a few days ago about Jesus being the way. The sentiment of the piece indicated that he didn’t know Jesus but he mentioned, was the way the interstate roads or the back roads? As I walk the very narrow AT it seems that the way is definitely is narrow. At some points you have to walk like a gangway model and put one foot in front of the other. Or like the Olympics and the 4” bar beam.
Certainly the narrow way is not the easy way. The broad way the leads to destruction keeps calling loudly that it is the only way to go.
I’m going to keep on the narrow way because it IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO.
Far side of the world.
“If I make my bed on the far side of the world, you are there. “
As I walked today I came across this monument which gave glory to God. It lifted my spirit to once again worship the king of King and lord of Lords. I know his presence with me every minute as I walk in this beautiful nature.
It’s now day 31 and I’ve done 317 miles. Half of what I did on the Camino in the same time. BUT I’ve climbed 10 times the height. I notice that my ears pop when I’m heading down and up there mountains. That doesn’t happen on Djouce or even Lug.
Thought for the day.
It’s said out here that the first month is all about your legs and feet. Then the rest is all in your head. I’ve now done a month.
Isn’t it easy to start well and then fall off. Most Christians start well but sometimes cool off or even go backwards. It’s been a good start to the AT but what about the rest. It’s easy to make new-year resolutions but then by February it’s forgotten or even early January for some.
Hebrews teaches that you need endurance to finish the race. The next 5 months will take endurance!!!! But the good news is that we always look to Jesus who give us everything we need to keep going.
“let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God”
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| Great trail magic. |
Another major milestone today, 300 miles !!!
I get such buzz (excuse the pun) out of having my Fitbit vibrating before 9am when I’ve done my daily 11,500 steps.
I’ve discovered if you do the hours you get the miles. Just one foot in front of the other.
I’ve just walked 1,000,000 steps and 8,500 floors!!!!
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| Look carefully |
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| Ham radio at top of hill. |
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| Budget blown. |
Eat a big T-bone, get the calories in!!!
Lovely chat with Oculus over dinner in Iron Horse station steak house.
Resupply tomorrow and then maybe 6 days with no town.
Hospital Stopping walking was the hardest part of the AT. I had over a week with Matt and Mandy before heading home. My body reacted to sto...
