2026 Happy Blog Challenge

 April 23rd When I hurt my foot, the rest of the trip shifted in my head. For me, I figured it would be a struggle to maintain my step count. Well, that was after I realized it probably didn't warrant a trip to some random urgent care place. I'm really thankful that even with the hikes we have been doing, my foot seems to be getting better. Stephanie had goals that she still wanted to meet. This morning I dropped her off in the Smoky Mountains to do a ten plus round trip hike. My initial plan was to just go a mile or two up the same trail and then go back to the resort. The parking lot was full though. Instead, I dropped her off and looked for other adventures.  My first stop was at a large overlook complete with bathrooms and the Appalachian Trail going through it. I stayed there for a little while, partially because I kept falling asleep in the car, partially to eat some breakfast.  Using the provided pull-offs along the road I would stop and look around, maybe...

 April 21st, Tuesday  It was a beautiful day to be on a trail.  Today we hiked almost nine miles, round trip, up Wayah Bald on the Appalachian Trail.   The gap prior to this mountain is where I stopped the northbound through hike on the AT I attempted last year.  There were a lot of people on the trail making their own through hike attempt for this year.  I hope they all make it. Stephanie and I had planned to backpack a few days on the AT but with my foot bothering me, we are not.  I don't want to wear a heavy pack right now.  Here are some pictures from today's hike: This tree is basically hollow on the bottom.  👆 There seem to be leaves starting to bud at the top.  Nature is cool.👇 The plant with the yellow flower is possibly a bellwort. One of those mountains is Mount Albert.  The 100 mile mark on the AT.  The day last year that I climbed Mount Albert and its fire tower it was completely clouded in. Blow up of Mount ...

 Friday April 18th. Travel Day The cabin was lovely, but our time near the Foothills Trail is over.  The original plan was to hike part of the Appalachian Trail this week.  With my foot sore from yesterday's slip-up, that may not happen.  However, we are planning other great things to do.  I'm hoping to keep up with my daily step goal of 10,000 steps, but that depends on my foot. Anyhow, we checked out of the cabin this morning and had breakfast at a local place.  It was good.  We followed that with a drive up Sassafras Mountain.  Stephanie and I hiked it yesterday and only briefly spent time at the top.  It was Silena's turn to see the views from South Carolina's highest peak.  I took the time to actually read the signs today and learned more about the area. View from the cabin with the sun behind.  Down the road from the cabin Some of those hills are where we hiked this week. Close-up of a blossom, probably a magnolia. Different s...