puss in boots

so im back from my appalachian trail "adventure".... an if you know me that word always seems to have a twist:). i got to the trail head (not marked) right on time 1:00 pm. (virgo) the parking was not what i envisioned, a pull off on a little road at sams gap. the weather was cloudy but i had expected that, as weather.com posted rain for tuesday. while gearing up a photographer cat came up and wanted to take my picture, is agreed. he said he was and has been documenting the changes to that area for the last 20 years... he warned me both of my car and the weather but i moved on. 7.8 miles, 2.5 hours later and at the big bald shelter, it was pouring rain. that weekend i had to make a shoe decision i hated to make, but when i went out in my new alico hiking boots, that friday, i got a small blister after 5 miles (all my hand breaking in work, failed me). andrew had a 10 year old pair of good hiking boots that were my size so i committed to those. well at the top of the bald, thinking i was going to wait out the rain, i took of my boots to access my feet and found 4 nice blisters... both heals and a couple of toes... so i began to ponder the words of old boy down the hill. after an hour, i got nervous about the weather, my truck and my feet... only to retreat 7.8 mile to the car, getting there by 6:30. i tried to find a place to camp, hoping the rain would let up, but ended up driving 30 miles back to asheville to get a room in the "mountaineer inn":) and the cardinal game kept me company quiet awsomely:) it rained for the next 2 days, with temps in the 30-50's and needless to say i ended up in andrews apartment in banner elk, nc early and by truck (20 miles west of boone, where he teaches at lee's mccrea college). i had a blast there, learning about the ski culture of sugar mountain (the south east biggest and best resort) i met the town drink and lot of the locals, wed night at the corner bar. i scouted out the best places to hike and was ready for the good weather to come.. thursday morning i took tex down to the river just outside of his apartment door, to rock hop for a bit, which ended up with a broken toe, after slipping on a wet rock and mixed feelings of defeat and youth (i havent broken a toe in 20 years;) andrew, vic and dante arrived in banner elk thursday evening to rescue my feelings and we continued to have a blast and explore the area... by car and truck:) tex seemed to handle his gear well for the 15+ miles but later that week i noticed his under side was rubbed raw by the pack straps, and i think i felt worse about that than all the other... we have both recovered wonderfully and have been smiling ever since:)