Today was much like yesterday except with the addition of rain. The weather was nice this morning as I started out on the Parkway. There were quite a few clouds throughout the day but it wasn't until mid afternoon that rain looked like a real possibility. When it arrived it was only a few sprinkles and other that putting a rain cover on my pack I didn't do anything special. It was like that for another couple hours.

After about 16 miles I was in a semi-developed area and beginning to worry about accommodations. Another couple miles later I was filtering water for the night in a rainstorm. I had my rain jacket and hat on while I searched around on the side of the road in the woods. Nothing. And it was pouring hard.

"This is stupid" I thought. Right there is Old US-421 that leads directly into Boone only a few miles away. I headed out to the road to hitchhike into town. I didn't have to wait long before another backpacker pulled over to give me a lift. He took me to Boone Trail Motel ($30 inc. tax) for the night. So here I am watching the Weather Channel. It doesn't look good for the next week.