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Thursday–March 11, 2021
Trail Day–020
Trail Mile–12.6/221.1
Location–High Point Trailhead, then to home of Tim & Angela Groves, Rome
A
wonderful evening last, with Tim & Angela Groves in Rome. Gracious and kind hosts. A lovely, spacious home. I soaked my weary bones in their tub for the longest time. Then–Copperhead and I were served a delicious evening meal prepared by Angela. Don’t know how, but somehow I managed to stay awake to finish my journal entry.
Tim has an early meeting he needs to attend this morning, so the car shuffle is done and he’s got 
Copperhead and me back on trail shortly after seven.
Our hike today, just shy of 13 miles, will be pretty much flat and straight, along the old Simms Mountain Rail Trail. Little John camped near the trail last night, and as luck would have it, he’s just finished breaking camp, so he falls in with Copperhead and me–and we hike the day together. A bit cloudy, plus smoke from a nearby controlled burn, but we’re having a grand time and by late morning we’re well over halfway through the hike today, as we arrive Holland’s Store–where we go for drinks snacks (and a short rest). The memory of this old store has stuck with me, as it’s changed little in 
the past 23 years–and this is my third (passin’ thru) stop at Holland’s.
With less than two miles to go to reach Highpoint Trailhead, the Pinhoti leaves the rail grade to follow along new cut trail. Little John has decided to hike on but Highpoint is it for this old intrepid and Copperhead.
Pizza for lunch, then it’s back to spend the night once more with Tim & Angela. Supper is on Copperhead and me, Downtown Rome. A mighty fine day!
The wonderful things in life are the things you do,
not the things you have.
(Reinhold Messner)
