Time for a Swim

It's been so hot and the water looked so inviting so Lyle and Plugger went in for a swim. It was a nice stream with a swimming hole under the bridge. After they had finished their swim and they were drying off on the bank, a few of the "locals" showed up. Their first question to the boys was "Have you seen any copperheads?" Lyle's heart seized up and immediately he remembered where he was. Sure enough they started to look around more carefully and there they were! They killed a few and chased the rest away...boy their guardian angels were working overtime! They met a few hikers down the path and they also commented about the swimming hole. They said they had looked it over and saw the snakes and kept on going. It makes my skin crawl!

They have finished 760 miles. They crossed over the Skyline about 6 times today but they ended the night about 5 miles away from the highway. Lyle and Plugger are camping out tonight. They are with 2 other hikers--one is named Catch Up--but I don't know who the other one is. The heat and humidity is almost unbearable now. And they battled biting bugs at the last shelter. Lyle thinks it will be better sleeping in the tent tonight. Actually he ate his supper in the tent tonight too as it opened up on them about that time. After he finished eating the rain had stopped so he was actually standing outside of the tent as we were talking.

They will be getting into Montebello VA Monday. They plan to spend the night at a hostel and rest up. They can also do laundry and shop for supplies. It's so hard to believe that they are so far into the hike! What an accomplishment!