Date: 2009-04-27
From: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

To: Grassy Gap
Miles today: 3.9

For breakfast' Maine Man Mitch had this brilliant idea that he wanted to make couscous into a sweet breakfast food with honey sugar and milk. Well, we had none of those things, so he put a hot chocolate packet into his cous cous. It tasted absolutely disgusting and was a very unappealing color.I slept well again in the shelter last night. 2 nights in a row...the higher mileages make me lazy and able to sleep anywhere, I think. I haven't had any issues with mice yet. I wonder if it is because I sleep with my feet toward the wall or just luck.I have been having major issues with my peek though. I rewrote yesterday's entry at least 4 times because the peek kept randomly deciding to have a fatal error without giving me a chance to save a draft first.I hiked about .8 miles from the shelter to the Nantahala Outdoor Center this morning. I didn't feel like taping my feet or putting on boots, so hiking in crocs I go.It is amazing to me how I wear things out here I would be so embarrassed about anywhere else. Purple crocs. Spandex running pants. It is strange to me that it doesn't even faze me to just walk around and go to lunch in spandex pants and all smelly. Yet that is what I did today. Scottish Liz and I ate a tasty meal by the river at the noc. I even had my favorite beer: a highland gaelic ale. It gave me a pang of homesickness for graham street folks and Milltown.I topped off on denatured alcohol, so I should be good through the smokies. I sat and relaxed by the riverside for a long afternoon. Enjoyed the amenities of having running water to brush my teeth. Overall a good time. I decided against showering and washing clothes since I am barely out of Franklin and will be staying in Fontana Dam as well.The hike out of NOC is a fierce climb for 5 miles. Since any mileage past the NOC puts me ahead of schedule to meet Will on Thursday, I decided to camp at the first water source I got to. I hung my hammock and laid in a nice breeze to read. I decided against doing anything until 6. Raspberry and Raindancer rolled through my campsite at about 10 minutes to 6, which is the time for them to stop hiking. So tonight I got to have a fun girl's night camping.I enjoy watching how they interact with each other and like getting to know them better.They made fun of me eating grits for dinner, and I didn't heat enough water so they didn't taste good anyways.They have a nightly storytime where they read a chapter from their book, so I listened to tonight's session.I am feeling very tired, but I am happy to be back in my hammock. 4 nights in beds and on shelter floors is too long. The hammock is ultimate comfort and luxury compared to my walmart blue foam pad.This morning was probably the last time I'll see MMM til trail days (if I go) or if I get really fast and he slows down. He is trying to make it to Damascus for trail days on foot. I am just trying to keep hiking =)I've adjusted a lot to the things that were bringing me down when I first started this hike. Miles are just miles, and you don't have to keep up with anyone. I've got plenty of time to make it to maine--and there's nothing wrong with a flip flop if I slow down a lot. I still have painful blisters, but everything is starting to heal up (although I finally lost my toenail on my 3rd toe on my right foot. That cut out a significant bit of pain). And you get to know a wide swatch of people out here. Then you camp with someone you know or shelter if you want or camp alone if that is what you need. Talk about the people from the "real world" that you care about because the stories and people are just as interesting out here.And if you really want someone to like you, let them hang their food on your bear bag line when they are unsuccessful at throwing it. Thanks' R&R for letting me hang my food with yours. =)I'm thinking about a nice 13 miles tomorrow, but we'll see how many miles I get in before it heats up too much. I know I am used to this sort of weather, but this hot and humid with 30 pounds on your back makes it something else.