Date: 2014-02-27
From: Franklin, NC

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

**** Took awhile to finally get enough 4G to update my blog. I can get text and the occasional email, but internet connection is another thing. I can blog on my phone at night, but sticking it on TJ is tricky. Have to save battery life. So here comes a few days in a row!I was getting fat and happy at the Sapphire Inn here in Franklin and itching to get back to the trail. I did get a lot of stuff done so it was a productive zero, but I just want to hike. At 9am I walked to the post office to send back my laptop. I thought I would just bounce the thing from city to city, but it's just too much trouble and a little bit pricey. Enjoyed a "fancy" coffee at one of the local mom and pop shops as I walked back. By the time I got back to the hotel, Sunset and Bayou was gone. Hope I can catch up to him by the NOC before he bails and heads home. Ron Haven was going to take a group of us to the trail at 11. At the van there were 3 guys I have not met yet. One was Junebug from near Philly, another named Mr. Mime, and a third I just can't remember. Both of those kids were from the Poconos. We talked about the usual stuff, gear, start date, trail names, other hikers we have mutually ran into. Three good kids. Before you knew it the time was past noon. Ron was late, the weather was perfect, and all I wanted to do was get back on the trail.I didn't get back to Winding Stair Gap till 12:30ish. The other 3 guys didn't even get off with me. They were heading into an outfitter into town. Oh well, off I went.The terrain was fairly easy and my goal was to get to Licklog Gap by days end. A few miles into the hike was a .5 mile side trail to Siler Bald. (Pic Above) I dropped my pack grabbed my water, phone, and a Snickers to the top and I must say it's well worth an extra mile up a steep hill on a clear day. 360 panorama. Beautiful!Daylight was getting short and I had a long way to go. At this point I knew I wasn't going to make my hopeful destination. I climbed up to the top of an old observation tower which was a stone 4 walled structure. It was late and I still was mapless for the next 20 some miles, so I really debated if I should stay in this structure for the night. Honestly if I has enough water I would have, even though it looked like skunk/raccoon central inside. It needed cleaned out bad. I decided however to book it fast to the next shelter. It was downhill and definitely had water.Dark enough to wear a headlamp, I could actually see a campfire for about a quarter of a mile. Someone is at the shelter and for me it's always a little anticipation to know who is actually there. I filled up my water first and headed to the wooden lean-to. I see a guy walk out and I introduced myself, his name was Mark. Then a girl came out and said her name was Jesi. Great! I thought to myself. I felt like I was "interrupting" something. They were ready for bed and I have not eaten anything yet. I set myself up at the other end of the shelter before making my dinner. I settled down next to the fire and started eating and Mark came out to chit chat. Probably trying to figure me out. He's from Boston, and Jesi from Maine. Patriot fans. :/ Come to find out they are not together and that they met a few days ago on the trail which gave me a little relief. Jesi already had a stalker and she had trusted Mark to hike with her for a while.Song of the day-Wherefor and Why -Gordon LightfootMovie of the day- Boiler Room