“AnnaBelle, the dying leaves
Are dancing off of the trees.
They got an easy way.
Let’s you and me
Go dancing, too,
Wreck our dancing shoes.
Hey, hey, hey.
-”Radio Song” The Felice Brothers
I started at 7:30 am after basically no sleep. I was excited, though and hit the ground running and never looked back. I hummed the above song for most of the morning, and it fit nicely with my exuberance. I was amazed at the beauty that i saw; the long tunnels of Rhody’s, the still thriving azaleas, holly’s, and the leaves falling from the Oaks, Maples, Walnuts, Beech’s, and Poplars. They “call this sectioon of the AT “The Long Green Tunnel” and i can see why. There was a very tough creek to pass over, and the views at Betty Creek Gap and Albert mountain were spectacular. The trail was easy compared to the Northeast i felt because of the switchbacks, but ALbert mountain was a tough climb, with a lot of hand over hand action. I was exhausted after climbing Albert and went to the shelter and waited 3 hours for the guys to get in. i made a good dinner of Pesto pasta and a quart of water, and went to bed in the shelter by myself. I felt the other cats were a bit tiffed that i hiked alone, and way ahead, but thats just how i like to do it. i felt free and good and strong all day, but i did need sleep.
