5/3 Wednesday: Vandeventer Shelter to Abingdon Gap Shelter (22.3mi)

We wake to a cool and foggy morning... Another big day is planned and were out early, grins..at least Steve is... At 0815 I bid goodbye to Zan and Mike (Australia University grads who were quite taken with Brysons' book)and hit the trail ... I keep my raingear on but by 1000 the skies clear and a beautiful day dawns on us again... Steve and I take a 45min break at the Iron Mtn Shelter about 1200, after finishing about 8mi of our 22mi day... The terrain levels a bit more in the afternoon and reach Low Gap, a 10mi distance, at 1530 for dinner. We finish our 1hr dinner and take time to speak to an retired gentleman on his way to a bike trail. He stopped to get water from a spring not a few feet from our picnic table. Steve and I replenished our water supplies there also. The number and quality of springs in this part of the country is quite amazing... The water is almost always crystal clear and quite chilled bubbling from the earth... What a blessing... The gentleman goes on his way and we hit the trail with only 5mi to go... We end up at our destination at 1800, set up camp and prepare for a peaceful night...
PICTURES:
1. The Nick Grindstaff monument... His epitaph reads: He lived alone; He suffered alone; and he died alone. Doesn't sound like a pleasant life...
2&3. We walk across what appears to be abandoned farm lands with more wonderful vistas...
4. Looking back on what I believe to be part of the Watauga Valley.