Date: 2005-04-12
From: Standing Indian Mtn Shelter

To: North of Rock Gap
Miles today: 21.0

Up and gone by 7:20. I listen to my elders and took Chicken knees advise to heart, leave earlier. Later on the trail this would prove to be a good technique to miss the hotter part of the day. As predicted the rain did start about an hour in to it. I stopped for a late breakfast under a large Hemlock. It held off the rain long enough to fix the meal and move on. Passed through a rhododendron thicket in an area called Coleman Gap (Sorry to say the picture I took did not come out. I took it in memory of my friend Ann's father, she would have found comfort in that. He was a great photographer). Never before have I seen such a thing. Acres and acres of it. I bet this will be a beautiful area when in bloom. I moved along quite well, NC was a bit easier going then back there in GA. I moved along slowly working my way up towards Albert's Mountain.    Fog, rain and the fact there were no views made it a bit depressing. It wasn't till I saw a vertical sign with the words "Trail Magic" on it did my spirits lift. I rounded the curve in the trail, followed the music and my nose to some of the best Trail Magic ever. A couple of good old boys had it set up right. A blazing fire with a huge circular saw blade hanging below a metal tripod with coffee, beans, rice and corn cooking and home made salsa on the side. The two people I recall who were responsible for this were Fishin Fred and Gator aid. Those boys hooked this old man up. A donation given, two plates consumed and even a little fuel for the stove and I was again "Ready to Rock" as I use to put it. There I ran in to Kate (Blue Angle) , Fancy pants (the boy did have some fancy pants), Goose bumps, Two NC boys, Stump and Clock plus many more. I believe Romer and Coho (formerly Crispity and Crunchity) were there as well. I signed the log book, left notes for Joe and Praying Mantis and much to my chagrin, reluctantly departed. Soon I was standing at the Rock Gap Shelter and met my friend Tal (from Israel) for the first time.    There were so many people there I decided to move on. Some showed up from from MT Albert as well. Too crowded for me so (still going for that longer slower day). Constant adaptation was my key to finishing this trek, I'd swear by it. For example I was using the AT Data Book as I mentioned before, here without the detail of other books I missed another interesting tree just a tenth of a mile down the trail, .5 off to the right stood "The Wasalik Poplar". This tree was the second largest yellow poplar in the world and I missed it. What can I say, I got this thing for old trees. Life that old interests me. When I got to Franklin I picked up Wingfoot's Thru Hiker Handbook, not always accurate but used in conjunction with other things, a good source of info. At about 9 PM around a 1/2 mile North of Rock Gap I found a nice vista overlooking Franklin. The rain had let up and I had a nice sunset. I was set up to watch a sunrise the next morning. (To note: I crossed the 100 mile mark back at Glass Mine Gap just before Rock Gap Shelter. I judged my distance covered in 100 mile increments in the beginning). I heard a little thunder in the distance but thought nothing of it, set up camp, had supper and settled in for the night. Soon the thunder got louder and louder and BANG it was right on top of me.    Exhilarating is the word I use to describe it. No time lapse between the flash and bang of the thunder and lightning for at least 20 minutes. I said the following prayer that night and I quote, "Lord if you are going to call me home tonight, do me one favor, please don't make it hurt". I could just envision it ZAP and I am a crispy critter. Worse yet have a tree fall on me pinning my arms and some porcupine comes along and eats my eyes out, Yuck... I covered my face with my hat because it was so bright and waited it out. Next morning with eyes still in my head I checked out the tent, its first true test which it passed with flying colors, gathered my gear and moved on. Off to Franklin, a short day (or Nero day which means near zero for miles: hiker talk) got a free shuttle ride in to town and found a room. That's tomorrows entry. What a great day... WB