June 10 – South River Picnic Area (Day 83 – milepoint 880.8)

My fever broke in the middle of the night. Not too comfy laying in a pool of sweat in my sleeping bag, but happy it had passed.

I’ve been hiking the last 2 days with 65-year-old, Okie, from Tulsa. A year ago he weighed over 300 lbs, sold his insurance claims business and started getting ready for the AT. He bought some exercise equipment, changed his diet, started losing weight, and showed up on Springer Mountain on April 8 having never backpacked a day in his life. Now, at around 200 lbs. (and dropping), he says he’s a changed man and feeling better than ever. As sick as I felt last night, he had me wanting to stay up and talk. Definitely one of my favorite people out here.

We had a good day today and I decided to move on another 6 miles this evening. (I miss Okie already.) As sick as I was last night, it is kind of neat to have been able to hike 20 miles today.

Feeling a little beat up, though, so I’ve decided to slow up and not do the 5-consecutive 20-mile days in order to get to the Front Royal (VA) post office by Saturday morning. That much pain doesn’t feel necessary. The P.O. will be open Monday, and I’ll be there, two weeks behind schedule bearing the load of a comfortable smile.

I was, however, rewarded for today’s extra miles. A local couple, K-Ron and Bonnie (or Barbara?), drove up Skyline Drive from their home for an evening picnic. We shared a couple of picnic tables and talked until dark about traveling, our families, and our lives in general. Very nice folks. They left me with a bag of food – some crispy apples, cookies, chips and rice krispie treats. Saw a bear this morning and some wild dogs this evening. Far more concerned about the wild dogs than bears.

-Aquaholic