One Hundred Steps at a Time - My Appalachian Trail Adventure: May 3, 2016

Stairs into the green tunnel

Blue blazing after Caldonia State Park

I hiked on the same blue blazed trail

Mwith this guy for a while,

but he couldn't keep up.

More green tunnel

A nice shelter

With a sun dial and flowers

Crossing a stream

Cooking steaks at milesburn cabin

Today I started from the Caledonia State Park campground. To get back to the Appalachian Trail I would have to backtrack a mile and a half through the park. Instead I saw on the map that there was a small road that connected to a trail that would lead me to the Appalachian Trail without backtracking. So I took that road instead.

Anytime you leave the Appalachian Trail and take an alternate trail it's known as blue blazing. Since the Appalachian Trail is blazed with white many of the side trails are blazed with blue leading to the name.

After regaining the Appalachian Trail I was looking forward to the end of the day when I would reach milesburn cabin and meet up with Phil Cole Julie and Manny

I climbed a small Mountain and entered a green tunnel of Laurel. Partway up I came to a shelter there were two thru-hikers eating there I sat with them for a while and talked about science fiction books we like. after a while a woman arrived with a dog. the dog's name was Boy. After the thru-hikers left the woman and I talked for about 10 minutes. She lives nearby but her husband and she are hiking Appalachian Trail on a series of day hikes.

when I was hiking down the slope to the cabin Julie hiked up the trail to meet me. call and feel we're at the fire pit preparing to light the fire. Philip had bought Kohl a 10-pack of stick matches. who was busily learning all the ins and outs of lighting them and throwing them in the fire pit. what a great opportunity for boy. after a while we spent time shooting Kohl's bow and arrow and later learning to cast Phil's throwing knives.

when dinner time came Phil broke out enormous steaks to cook over the fire. Julie made some macaroni and cheese. Dinner was delicious. It began to sprinkle just after Manny arrived but there was enough time to grill his steak before we were forced into the cabin.

Philip and Cole went to bed. Manny Julie and myself sat around the cabinet table and talked. many have brought a supply of candy and showed us magic card tricks. when we got tired we went upstairs and went to bed.

Phil tending his fire