4/27 Thursday: Spivey Gap campsite to Erwin, Tn Holiday Inn Express (11.3mi)

Steve's definately an early riser...0530 LOL early even for me... He's out first by 0700, I'm next about 0730, RoJa a little later... Steve and I crossed a few hours later and we stopped at the No Business Knob shelter, I had to use the privy, of course this shelter doesnt have a privy...I hate it when that happens... So I get one of my trusty trekking poles, tp, and head for a secluded space not yet visited by mankind to do my business... Grinz...enough details for ya...LOL... We have been lucky so far no rain but it looks like it could start any time. Any way we continue on and the day begins to clear. By the time we get to Erwin its sunny and in the 70's. Were the trail hits the river road in Ervin there happens to be an outfitter so I go shopping for fuel, soda and the advertised $.40 snicker bars...:) I wait for Steve about 45 min and we decide to walk the 1.5 miles to the Holiday Inn... Ah...shower, bed, hot "fresh" food, and climate control...LOL... We all have our gear on their patio bye the pool drying in the midday sun...They are very accomodating here...:)We hook up with RoJa later and head out for pizza and salad bar, then some shopping for snacks for our next destination...Damascus, VA... one week away...............................Talk to you again then...:)
PICTURES:
1. First thing we see/hear as we a approach Ervin, TN is the Nolichucky River which is raging after more than 5 inches of rain has fallen around here in the last few days...
2. Nice views of Ervin from the peaks south of town... The town is surrounded almost entirely by National Parks/Forests... very nice...
3. Approaching our home away from home, Steve and I stop to contemplate lunch, nap time and the beauty of the area around these parts...

4/26 Wednesday: Hogback Ridge shelter to Spivey Gap campsite (15.6 mi)

Im on the trail by 0800 today...I wait for the T-storm to pass but another is on the way...So I put my raingear on and resolve to walk in the rain...:( I stopped in for a hot lunch at the Bald Mtn shelter shivering from the dampness, alone at first but joined within 30min by a couple of new hiking partners, Steve (Michigan) and RoJa (Maine)...I took off my boots to wring out my socks...GORETEX DOES NOT MEAN WATERPROOF... After a 90min stay I put my cold wet socks back on and head out with Steve and RoJa for the campsite about 6 miles away praying for the rain to stay away... Well the Lord smiled on us that afternoon and though we saw precious little sun, no more rain fell until after we pitched our tents and had supper...great timing on our parts... We experienced torrential downpours this night with severe T storms...We all stayed quite comfortable in our sleeping bags and tents.
PICTURES:
1. A lull in the rain allows me to take a pic of a Tennessee welcome sign at Sams Gap I-26.
2. A pic of lunchtime at the shelter... This young lady and these two gentlemen joined us late and decided to spend the night there thinking it was gonna continue to rain...Was a renovated shelter sleeping 10, 5 up and 5 down...Nice job AT volunteers...
3. Thats from L to R, Steve, me, and RoJa at the Spivey Gap campsite just before the rain chased us into our tents...LOL

4/25 Tuesday: Little Laurel shelter to Hogback Ridge shelter (21.5mi)

As with the previous days, the trail criscrosses the NC/Tenn borders throughout the day. Im on the trail at 0730, have an early hot lunch at Jerry Cabin Shelter at 1030, and arrive at 1845 a bit tired after a long, long day...Had driving rain in the morning forcing me into an early lunch. Weather cleared again in the afternoon but definately colder, with little sun. Milestone of this day....I surpassed the 300mi mark....WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!only 1875mi to go...LOL
PICTURES:
1. A break in the weather early in the day reveals quite a lovely view from this ridge...
2. I may be wrong but I dont think the AT ove any Maine mountain has an alternative route for inclement weather...Grinz...nice with all the lightning strikes I've noticed around here...
3. Walking across Big Butt (another Bald Mtn) I'm fogged in....
4. Moments later a wonderful view as the weather clears....momentarily...
5. The shelton Graves near the 300mi mark for me... This uncle/nephew were Union volunteers who were ambushed and killed near here while returning home during the Civil War for their family reunion. One of many tragic things to have happened during a regretful period in our History....
6. Thats "Energizer Bunny" who was just arriving at the Flint Mtn Shelter as I was leaving. I had a nice lunch, the sun came out after a mostly rainy morning so I took another hour to dry off before continuing on for a mostly dry afternoon...
7. Thats me at a waterfall up the mtn from the Rector Laurel Rd, got a little drinking water here too...
8. A pic of my destination for that day...I was a happy camper...It sleeps 6 and I was #6...:)

4/24 Monday: Hot Springs, NC to Little Laurel Shelter (19.6mi)

Had breakfast at the Hostel, good company around the table with 10 residents presents. Its these special interactions that I seem to crave after being essentially alone all day with my thoughts in the woods. After a great breakfast I pay my bill $36 for 2 nights and breakfast and I grab my gear and Im off by 0900. A quick stop at the outfitters for some extra fuel for my camp stove and Im on the trail again... All my friends are either staying an extra night or leaving later... I want to try for a big day... I get into Spring Mtn Shelter for a very quiet lunch, until just before I leave Willow shows up. Shes a hiker who injured herself in the Smokies, says shes better just taking it slow now with a bum knee...what a trooper... She cant weigh more than 100lbs and is probably carrying 30lbs of gear...amazing when you think about it...Best of luck to ya Willow...
PICTURES:
1. Saying goodbye to Hot Springs from the hills North of the village...
2. Some of the easier hiking earlier on in the day... And what a beautiful day it was. This is a section Jackie, my wife would love...;)
3. Some lovely spring flowers, a bit different than anything " have seen before
4. Yea, thanks guys for reminding us!!! All I got are 2 treking poles to fend them off... No bears seen today... Still...didnt need to see that sign...
5. A number of grave stones are located along the trail in NC... Im not sure of their connection to the AT but am sure of one thing...They all appreciated BEAUTY...
6. Approaching my lunchtime date at the Spring Mtn Shelter built in 1938, Willow would arrive just as I was departing.
7. The late afternoon sky, an omen of bad weather to come...

Sunday April 23, 2006: FREE DAY IN HOT SPRINGS, NC (0 miles)

After a couple of weeks and 270 miles, I decided to take the day off and enjoy this quaint little town... Yesterday I had a chance to freshen up and do laundry, visit the annual "Trail Festival" put on by local merchants and various trail organizations, meet other hikers I had camped with and generally check the place out. I stayed at the The Sunnybank Inn, also refered to as Elmers after the owner and head vegitarian chef. A beautiful place as hostels go...a 160 y/o victorian home catering only to hikers. My room was on the first floor and I had a double bed, quite a luxury from the bunkhouses other hostels offer. I had to share the room with another hiker each night, this being their busiest season. All shops in town are on a 1/4mi main strip, a beautiful layout but stuck in a "Gap", canyon more like it with no cell phone reception anywhere in town... On this day I woke and headed with others, who were also taking the day off, to a benefit AYCE pancake breakfast heald at the local community center... I think all the hikers in town were there along with plenty of towns people. We had a pleasant breakfast before even more hikers arrived and decided to forgoe 4ths due to the length of the line. I spent most of the remainder of the day updating this blog on a MAC computer at the Duckett House B&B, another even more beautiful place on the outskirts of town. The owners were very accomodating even as they were preparing to host a "political meeting" to help garner support for local elections. I really enjoyed my time in Hot Springs and we brought it all together at the pub for supper with many of my current hiking friends present.
Pictures:
1. Thats me and "Gringo" having supper, one Saturday, April 22 with another group of hikers and a restauraunt right across the street from our Inn. I can recall only 2 of the names and they were Ranger Dog (Retired Army) and Model T(who has a few AT books published and is on I believe his 4th thru-hike). This groups average age must be about 65 but dont let that fool you out here... These guys are in very good condition.
2. One of the owners of the Duckett House Inn who spent some valuable time with me to get the MAC computer to work like the PC's I'm use to... Thankyou again!!!!!
3. Heres supper on the 23rd with all the familiar faces of the last week assembled, showered and with clean clothes and everything...LOL...Lots of fun...
4. Finally, the center of towne is appropriatly housed with the local outfitter where hikers can replace, upgrade, or add almost anything to their tools to help them get to Katahdyn. A really great place staffed with many helpful folks.