1304 9/02/07 I planned this hike after our hike in June to help celebrate my 82nd birthday on September 1, 2007 but schedules would not allow for that so we hiked on the second. About two weeks prior to the scheduled hike, I came down with a stomach bug accompanied with extreme weakness in my legs. I hated to cancel the hike because many good friends were converging on the trailhead from far and wide. I kept my fingers crossed but finally decided that I could probably make the hike.

 

Sons Bob, Bill and Bob's two sons Austin and Charlie and I left Stuart at about 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning for the through drive to Cherokee, NC.  What a way to spend one's 82nd birthday. Bob used his GPS to navigate back roads from Jacksonville to Cherokee. The distance is shorter than taking the interstate the entire distance, the scenery is better and the Suburban gets better gas mileage. The driving time is just about the same.

 

We arrived at the Comfort Suites in Cherokee at about 7:30 p.m., after stopping for a Birthday dinner and Shoney's in Franklin, NC. The seafood buffet was delightful. The waiters and waitresses' even brought out a birthday cake with candles and sang happy birthday to me. Thank goodness the candle count did not match my age. There was a mix up in Bill's reservation but they had a room anyway. It turns out that he had made his reservations at the Comfort INN. I hope that he somehow gets credit for the unused room.

 

We planned to meet at MacDonald's at 6:00 a.m. Sunday Morning for breakfast. It was just next door. As I walked over Lynda Platone greeted me in the parking lot. After ordering the boys had to use the rest room but we still managed to arrive at the Alum Cave Trailhead just a few minutes after seven a.m. I took a picture of the road as we neared Newfound Gap. It was too foggy for a morning sunrise shot. We arrived at the trailhead a few minutes later than planned. Several folks were waiting for us. Our 7 plus Tillroe made for about 25 hikers. This is a picture of most of the group.  Joe Steele joined us before we departed. Others were wielding the various cameras and others joined us on the trail.

 

The temperature was in the mid 50's and the sky was clear as we left the trailhead at about 7:15 a.m. Austin and Charlie had to stop frequently  to look for salamanders under rocks and in the creek. We took our first break at Arch Rock. I had to take several short breaks before reaching Inspiration Point. We took a longer break there and enjoyed the view and flowers. We took the occasion to take pictures. Tillroe and Cindy insisted on taking too many of me. I used a fine filter to eliminate most of them. I should have been even stricter

 

I took a couple of pictures on the way to Alum Cave. I paused long enough to take a picture of the Eye of the Needle through foliage and a normal view.  When I neared the bluff I was shocked to see Austin climbing on the rocks. Charlie soon came into the picture to see what his brother was doing. We paused at Alum Cave for a short rest before heading on toward Gracie's Pulpit. I photographed the spine of Little Duck Hawk at a couple of different views as I passed. I photographed a bunch of Ashy Coral Fungus above the entry to the top of Little Duck Hawk Ridge. Supposed to be good eating but I passed the opportunity. Close by were more fungi and moss, along with some pitted lichen. I used these photo opportunities to rest my weary bones.

 We paused at Gracie's Pulpit for a snack break and rest. "Stan the Running Man" overtook and passed us for the first of many time today. Stan works at the Oak Ridge National Laboratories and is doing speed hiking up and down the trail in preparation for a race to the top and back on September, 28, 2007 of this year. His name was Stan Wellslinger or some other "Good German Name." He hiked the trail twice today before we got to the lodge for the first time. While we were resting two young guys, from Sevierville, TN, descended from an overnight at the lodge with their families.

 

We met more and more folks descending from their overnight at the lodge as we got higher up the mountain. We met a couple above the log steps. They were followed by two couples and then a father and his five year old son. I was not feeling too perky so I made almost no effort to remember folks' names or where they were from. This must have been a father/son day because we shortly met another father with his young son. We then met a young girl and her brother. Before reaching Trout Branch, A young half naked guy and an older couple appeared. The topless guy was from the San Fernando Valley in California.

 

We stopped at Trout Branch and took several pictures of a very tiny mushroom and several flowers in bloom.  The Grass of Parnassus was really putting on a show. There were many hundreds of blooms in the Trout Branch area. I selected a single blossom and a group of three to photograph. I also photographed a closed gentian and very rare Krigia Montana.  The blossom was imperfect but as I said it is very rare. It is the only one that I saw. We met Stan the Running Man again. 

 

When we reached Betty Jane's stairway to Heaven. Cindy ask everyone to pause for a prayer for our friends and relatives that needed our support. That included Betty Jane, Cindy's brother-in-law, Jo Ann Smith, Diana Strech and others not named. I included the late Margaret Stevenson and Paul Dinwiddie as well as the very much alive Tagerts from Boca Raton, FL.

 

It was 65 degrees and cloudy at the lodge. We went into the office and chatted with Henry Neel. I asked him if he was going to do another tour of Iraq. He said NO! I signed the register and went outside to get water and eat. I did walk over to the dining room and photographed the edifice.

 

We made a short snack break at Gracie's Pulpit. Charlie climbed the dirt bank and added to the dirt load on his clothing. Lynda looked rather exhausted and I know that I was. It is amazing how fresh that Cindy appeared.  Another five- year- old and his parents passed us while we rested. Shortly after leaving Gracie's Pulpit several large drops of rain fell so I put my camera away to protect it from the rain. No more rain fell.

 

I appreciated the effort that folks made to join me in this hike. Although I didn't get individual pictures of everyone, Lynda Platone, drove up alone from near Tampa, FL. Gerry and Nora drove from Indianapolis, IN. Tillroe and Joe Steele from Moody and Leeds, Alabama. Cindy came from Columbus, OH. I apologize if I missed recognizing anyone but thanks for the company on this hike. Cindy gave Austin, Charlie and me needle points for the occasion. Thanks Cindy for the remembrances and the birthday card.

 

We drove to Bob's In-Laws to visit and spend the night. They bought five and a half acres near the Georgia/South Carolina border and built a new home. It was Lovely. The boy's enjoyed driving "Papa's" golf cart around the homestead. Bill enjoyed the visit with Charles and Dorothy Merritt. 

 

When we stopped at a rest stop in Florida. Charlie had to wear his dad's hiking boots.  It really was a great hike although it was very difficult for me. Bob remarked that a milestone had passed. both Austin and Charlie could out hike him. Needless to say, I am not even in the same league.