Monday 30 July

Once again I struggled to get up and again after breakfast it was another slow get away hitting the trail aground 8 am.
I must do better..i would rather start early and finish early .

I hit the trail and pushed on looking at the trail and trying to decide if i stopped too early yesterday.. Nah I was right . it wasn’t before I was playing walk the plank and navigate around the bog. it does take some concentration and I have to say it’s exhausting. Most of the morning forests where like a maze in and out up and down. There were no really nice routes or a straight enough stretches to get any speed up . every now and then I crossed a road or another stream then it was either walk the plank.dodge the bog again .

My watch was counting the hours as I was a bit excited about ringing the post office and thought that I would wait for 10 am and hope st this point I had cell service.
I emerged out of the forest and crossed another road. perfect I thought this will do. I found a large rock to sit on and go my self ready. I dialled
Jim answered. the man that had spoke to on Saturday.

Yes the clerk is here let me go have a word. Whilst on hold I listened to all the wonderful things the the postoffice could do. Eventually Jim came back . we sent it to where it was posted .
Okay thank you I replied.
That meant that it was sent back to Dahlonega .
I rang Dahlonega post office .
The lady on the other end didn’t seem.over helpful. and basically told me that it wasn’t there. Eventually she took down my details .
Once again so near but so far . I was disappointed. for some reason I had hoped that it was just sitting on the shelf at this post office. Oh well
I packed my stuff up and hoisted up my pack and set off again.

I walked at ound several more bever ponds then I was back in gloomy forests again and the game of walk the plank. At long last I began to go down I crossed over another road and began to follow a small stream down the mountain . But unlike the other streams of this morning the water was crystal clear. I decided that if I crossed over it then I would stop for lunch.

I walked. for about another 10 minutes then a bridge came into view. I crossed over and dropped my pack. filled up a bottle of water then made tea and ate lunch. As I sat relaxing 3 other hikers past by going South. I am beginning to see more and more of these SOBO’S now.

After lunch I pushed on again but I was really felling wearily I urged myself on i just think itv was the trail or rather the terrain. I’ve been stuck in the forest for most of the day dodging in and out of trees crawling over rock and avoiding muddy bogs.

At last a straight bit of trail and through the trees I could see a town. A little further I came across Dad and his young daughter out for a strole. He was really chatty wanted to know where I was from and when did I start. Then he wished me hood luck and welcome to the town ….

I then exited into daylight and crossed over the railway tracks I was now in Dalton.

The trail runs straight through town so my first stop was the garage a large sprite a blueberry Danish , an orange and a ice lolly. I sat outside and plugged in my phone for a quick charge as I munched my food and slurped my drink.
I sat for an extra 10 minutes then unplugged my devices and headed back to the road and the trail. I quite enjoyed walking through this town looking at all the different houses and styles.
Eventually the trail begins to head back to the forest i am just adjusting my poles when a voice says trail Magic!!

Why not lol I drink two more sodas. he insists I eat a Danish and take some chips (crisps) with me
I thank him then head back to the forest and the trail.

Its 4 miles to the next camp and it’s just gone 3 pm that will probably do me as it’s all up hill and steep. I push on as I’m.climbing a stream.of Sobos come past me I give them the news ..”There is trail magic in a miles time”

A lovely lady called hopscotch thanks me and wishes me well.
I get back to my climbing as several more sobos come past . I give them the same info.
The climb is long and I’m now tired .yes camp I will stop soon.
I then meet another man heading south. thru-hiker? I ask
He laughs no just stretching my legs,Are you heading to the camp?
Yes I reply.
Well it’s 10 mins past the pylons and they are half an hour away .
I thank him and push on , In 30. minutes the pylons appear and just after there is a sign pointing to the camp.
I stop, pause and ponder. Bugger I say to myself I’m going on .My watch pings 5pm

Okay I will walk to 6 6/30
I hope this is not a mistake I say to myself as I continue down the trail.
more bogs to cross, planks to walk. then I come to another beautiful lake again made by beavers.
I pause for a moment then push on . after an hour I’m trying to decide what to do, there is a fire road that I could get my tent up on, but I’m not happy. So back to the trail at 6.30 I’m knackered and just want to stop but there is no where, then I’m up on cliffs. But what a great views that makes me forget my tiredness for a few minutes.
Okay flat spot . can I get in there NO….. I wander down the trail my eyes darting from side to side. I then decide to head off trail to a clump of fir trees and yes a perfect spot.

Tea made food hung. night all

Start 1558
Finish 1577
Miles 19
Miles left 614