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Friday–April 23, 2021
Trail Day–063
Trail Mile–17.1/(667.4 adjusted)
Location–Pigeon River Bridge just past Davenport Gap, then to Quality Inn, Newport, Tennessee, AT Mile 240.5
It got down to 27 degrees at Tri-Corner Knob last night. Not equipped for that kind of cold. However, I did 
manage a reasonably decent night’s sleep. Just want y’all to know I did put forth due diligence at writing my journal entry. But even in my tent, wrapped up in my quilt, I was unable to get my fingers to work well enough. So, for the delay.
Barry rousts us at six-thirty this morning. Don’t recall ever not wanting to
get up and get going, not ever, at least not like this morning. I finally roll out, break camp, shoulder my pack and get moving–my painful old bones creaking and complaining as I go.
A climb first thing (always a climb first thing) up around Mount Guyot, Old Black, then up Inadu, Camel Hump, Ross, and Cosby Knobs. After dropping down low through Low Gap, two more climbs to 
finally top out mid afternoon on Mount Cammerer.
Now the scary part, steady and steep descent to Pigeon River at Davenport Gap past historic rockwork by the Civilian Conservation Corps (cribbing and walls). Another stumble and bumble the rocks and roots day, through continuous cold overcast.
Lots of complaining. Hey old man, no one wants to put up with your complaining!
Five-thirty, Julie comes for us, loads us right up in her nice warm truck, then hauls us down and off the mountain to town…
Pain is inevitable.
Suffering is optional.
(Haruki Murakami)
