Franklin, NC to Cold Creek Shelter (6/6/14)

True to form for North Carolina, I once again have no signal.  No worries, tomorrow I plan to stop at the Nantahala Outdooe Center (NOC) and stay at the hostel so I can get this out then.

That's me, Rat and Goose. Unfortunately, they left the trail today. 

Here's another panorama from today.

A waterfall where I got back on the trail.

Some flowers I saw while hiking today.

Today was a weird day after having a zero day yesterday. Don't get me wrong, my feet are much happier now that my blisters have been taken care of (though sore from a 16 mile hike today), but it felt weird getting started, almost like I was starting over, even though I wasn't.

I was treated to some amazing views today. I posted some pictures above of some of them. There was one view out over the mountains with the side peripheries surrounded my trees, giving me a tunnel view to the mountains. That part was the amazing part of it--the trees below where I stood on the trail were in full bloom with white, pink and orange flowers. It were as though the trees were competing with the blue sky and green mountains in a beauty contest.  While walking through part of the trail, there was a broadleaf canopy overhead that allowed the sunlight to filter through tinting the air around me I green. It were almost as though the forest were surrounded by a green aura. It was amazing!

Right now I am camped with Hope and King Nickie at Cold Creek Shelter. The shelter sits right on the trail, and the Cold Creek flows right in front of the shelter. I hope its bubbling and gurgling lulls me to sleep tonight.

Alright, I'm going to sign off for now, and hopefully I'll get this posted tomorrow.