D 17&18 - Back at it!!

Day 17 4/8

• Miles Traveled: 1 duplicate mile
  
• Shelter: tent at Moore Creek
  
• High Point: getting back out on the trail
  
• Low Point: entirely too many hours of sleep
  

We headed out of Franklin after breakfast. We called a very nice trail angel listed in the guide book, Beverly Carini. She took us back to Winding Stair Gap. The same place in which we started from 4 days earlier.

She asked why we didn't go back to where we were picked up before and we explained that we were familiar with the trail, the terrain and we knew we had an out 6 miles in if Russ' ankle wasn't getting better. She accepted our donation and wished us well as we went on our way. We hiked about 1 mile in and set up camp for one more day of rest. We packed out some delicious deli sandwiches and lounged around camp.

We went to bed early (pre 5pm)because we were excited to hike the next day.

Day 18 4/9

• Miles traveled: total 7.6, 6.3 retraced miles, 2.3 new miles
  
• Shelter: tent at Wine spring campsite
  
• High point: NEW MILES & a cool creek to soak our feet
  
• Low point: the last two "new" miles were steep uphill to the campsite
  

We woke up excited and eager to hike. We were greeted with a cool morning and sun. The miles came easy and we were rewarded with spotting two deer. We haven't seen very much wildlife since we started. Squirrels, birds, the occasional chipmunk and one wild hare (or bunny, as I like to call them) is all that we have seen so far. 

We are taking it easy and slow. We have LAZER FOCUS on the trail. 

We topped our first NC bald, Siler Bald. We actually passed by the 0.5 mile side trail (blue blaze) the first time we hiked these miles. We did not miss this opportunity and the view was a great reward.

Excited to move forward but we are very cautious as we do not want to injure ourselves by going too far and fast, too soon.

PS the only snow we have seen.