Day 9 - change in temperature - Prof

So Doc decided to elbow me in the throat last night for some reason. I guess I won't try cuddling with him again. Other than that the night stay in the Howard Johnson was great. Laundry in the bathtub worked out well but none of our clothes were dry by morning. I tried drying mine on the outside of my pack as I walked today but it's way too damp for that to work even a little bit. 

The continental breakfast was great this morning. I think I had two rounds of biscuits and gravy and five bagels. The trail was pretty easy today just an average climb with some small descents mixed in. With the great breakfast and the nice trail we booked it, doing 11 miles in a little over 4 hours with a stop for lunch in there as well. 

Today while hiking we came across a couple cool things. We saw our first deer on the trail, surprising us that it took this long. It was a young buck just outside of town 
 

Later in the afternoon we came across three different little orange lizards. The  colorful little things were out just chilling in the path, with few cares. 

The other thing we found were pools full of little minnows in some of the creeks. These were the first fish we had seen yet in a creek crossing. I'm not sure if they would stay small or grow up to be big fish.

We had one last cool thing happen today, we completed our first 100 miles. It's crazy to consider all that we have seen along the way. It seems like we have been out here forever but also at the same time like we haven't seen very much at all. 

We stopped in camp earlier than we originally planned only doing 11 miles instead of 18. We stopped to make sure we were set up before the rain got here. It worked and we got supper eaten right before the rain started. 

Now I am lounging in my hammock half dozing and writing. We have service again tonight which is nice, especially when I'm stuck under the rain tarp unable to talk with people. It's going to be a chilly night and it will be another day like today tomorrow. This weather is great when we're active and moving on the trail but it cools you down quick when you stop moving. 

Goodnight everyone and happy birthday to my Dad! 

-Prof

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