And now, we continue with the American obsession with things that make noises. Loud noises.

Day Seventeen, 4 July, 27.5 Miles
At Mile 319, Poptart 82/1000
Still windy, and by the looks of hilltops and some of the trees on them it always is around here. Helps keep the temperature awkward anyway. Still leapfrogging with Lake, nice morning right up on the divide. Trail easy to follow yet still vague. Spent many a minute building and improving cairns to help ma future CDT brothas and sistas. And 'cause it's fun. In cowland too. Cows. The most obnoxious animal in the world. Besides mosquitoes, of course. Past Dana Spring and back onto roads. This time a nice forest road you could drive a car on, at least they get used, unlike most of these trails. Was surprised to see a cinnamon black bear. Didn't care about me as usual. Late in the afternoon, strolling through a poorly signposted area (CDT markers have been excellent, and correct, since Lincoln) I came across a fenced spring. Wait a minute. There's not supposed to be a water source like this for miles. Not in the guidebook, not on the map. Where le crap am I? Oh dear. Wait, if I just head South on this trail. Hey this is kind of doing what the map said it should. Oh, there's a junction, and two knolls, and a farmhouse down there. I'm on the trail? What was that spring all about. Oh well, better than cow water (not that kind). Camped in the wind.