We said goodbye to Ira and Andrea the cyclists this morning. If you are curious how a 10,000 mile bike trip plays out visit their site at tour2k6.blogspot.com. While I am on the subject, my hosts have their website at www.freerangepeacocks.com. Check them both out and say hi. They are interesting people.

David dropped me off at the gap where he picked me up the other day. I had arranged to be picked up 6 hours later at the Folk Art Center. The trail passes right by it and it concludes another section of the guidebook.

After the climb up out of the gap which took probably an hour and a half, the trail eased. Near Asheville, where the French Broad River passes, the mountains flatten out somewhat. So as I hiked along, the trail was trending downhill and following near the Parkway more than in the past. It was about 9 miles to Craven Gap where the Peacock's live. Soon I was there but I kept on going. The hiking was really easy with a day pack and a gentle trail. I arrived at the Folk Art Center a little early and waited on a bench. What was on my mind was good Mexican food at El Chpala is is named after a famous lake in west-central Mexico that I visited in 2006. 774 miles done.

(The food at the restaurant was excellent.)