TN/VA Picture, Wild Animals, Weight Check, and Lots of Food!

On Thursday (4-28) I decided to take a zero hiking day and resupplied at a grocery store which had dry ice in the refrigerated section.  There was a sign on the door that said DON'T OPEN because they were trying to preserve the food.  It seemed like very few businesses in Damascus have generators.  I sent my sleeping bag to my daughter to cut space and weight and bought a "space blanket"-shiny, thin, silver blanket they give runners after a long race.  On Friday (4-29) while we were sleeping in the hostel, the power was restored.  I weighed myself before I left the hostel and I weighed 143 pounds.  I started the hike weighing 165 pounds.  This weight loss seems to be similar to others.  I hiked from 7:45 AM-4:30 PM and went 15.8 miles.  I stayed at the Lost Mountain Shelter.  This was the first day I felt extremely tired in the afternoon.  On Saturday (4-30) condensation developed inside my space blanket.  I hiked 17.4 miles from 6:45 AM until 6:00 PM.  I set up my tent at my own campsite near the AT after passing the Grayson Highland State Park.  I saw wild horses and the most breathtaking views of the whole adventure to date.  The trail was very rugged and rocky but the climb was well worth it.  It was spectacular!  There was no cell phone service.  On Sunday (5-1) condensation developed again inside my space blanket creating concern that I shouldn't have sent my daughter my Marmot sleeping bag.  She is sending it back to me this week.  I hiked from 6:45 PM-3:30 PM and covered 16.0 miles.  I saw big horned steers grazing right along the trail.  There were 10-15 animals around but here's a picture of a few of them.

For dinner I ate a medium pizza all by myself.  I followed that up with cherry pie, ice cream, a Coke, and the best chocolate milkshake all served at Jerry's Restaurant which is two miles off the trail.  Yum yum!  After checking the internet, I had a Klondike bar and another Coke before leaving. A former hiker and trail angel drove me from the trail to the restaurant and back again.  I walked 1/4 mile to the Troutdale Baptist Church Hostel.  It was quite nice and I was the only occupant for the night.  After I showered, I listened to the radio and heard the announcement that Osama bin Laden was killed.  Once again, I had no cell phone service.  Monday (5-2) I was back at the same restaurant when it opened at 7 AM.  After a breakfast of biscuits and gravy, two eggs, sausage, toast, oatmeal and coffee, the trail angel (Gary) drove me back to where I had finished walking yesterday.  I've gone 515 miles.