Date: 2008-01-12
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: clear sky

mi. 7.5sleep shelterdest. Rock Gap Shelter day 183 Today's plan was a good one. An easy 4 miles to town, eat a huge breakest at the shoney's buffet, resupply, and get out. The biggest question was are we going to make it to town before Shoney's breakfest buffet is over and how hard it would be for 4 people to hitch at a time. We were not afraid of splitting up. (It"s freezing again so another adventure in typing with gloves on) Missinglink(ml) and john left a little bit in front of us. We were not planning a big mile day and were not in a hurry. Today is Torque's 6 month on the trail mark, tomorrow is mine. I told him on the way to the trail that someone would pick us right up and drop usa off at Shoney's and hook us up. We were both feeling good. We got to the rode to find ml and john there trying to hitch. We went over and joined them and stuck out our thumbs. In under 2 minutes a suv pulls over. It has an AT lisence plate and stickers. He turned out to be the maintainer for the section north of Cheaboh bald. A steep section that is hard to get to. He was a cool guy to talk to and gave us some good background on the trail through there. He dropped us right off at shoney's. I had a feeling this was going to be a great town stop. Shoney's let us put our packs behind the checkout counter. ML and john went to the PO. Torque and I proceeded to gorge ourselves. Luckily the buffet goes on to 2pm on the weekends. I only managed 4 big plates. Not a killer showing but a respectable. Including 1 full plate's worth of bacon and another worth of sausage links. Breakfest of champions. I was in the bathroom washing my hands after taking care of some business when the guy that was sitting next to us who was also in there asked me if we needed a ride to the trail. I said thanks we do, but we still have to go to the grocery store and get food. He said it wasn't a problem. We sat back down and talked for awhile. This was a ridiculus hookup. He said that he would also go to the PO and pick up the other 2. So we rode in his truck with his wife and daughter to the post office. We went in and ML and john were still repackaging their food drop. The guy said he would go drop his daughter off and come back. So Torque and I raised the class level of the PO and sat on the grass infront laying down against our packs. He showed up a few minutes later and talked with us while his wife ran an errond. A really cool guy. He is from the midwest and used to live in FL. We got to talking and he was a lineman with the power co. I know a little about that with my electrical school crap. he had some crazy stories about some of the things they did. His wife shows up and they drive us all to the grocery store. Torque and i rode first class in the back. I did ne of my fastest resupplies. I didn't want to be the one to keep everyone waiting. For the first time in 6 months and 2100 miles I am packing out mashmellows to cook over the campfire. For some reason I never got around to it, or would forget at the store. The 4 of us were also planning on all packing out something to share tonight. I also packed out a bottle of wine, put in a nalgene. ML and john packed out a pumken pie, and Torque packed out a 2 lbs steak. A great total diner. While in the store someone offered to drive ML and john to the trail, they also had someone offer in the PO. Franklin has to be the one of the friendliest trail towns. Southern Hospitality at it's finest. While we were repackaging in the parking lot the guy driving us told us how he did a little hiking and got a ride one time when he really needed it. After that he always tries to give hikers rides when he can. I had a windy first class ride back to the trail. But it has the best views so it'ls all good. We invited the guy to come out to the shelter tonight. It is only .1 or so from the rode. He said he would but is on call at his job and has a busy day of fishing ahead of him. From there it was a quick 4 miles to the shelter. Well it would have been quicker if I hadn't took a lot of relax breaks. I found somewhere to lay in the sun without my shirt on. A great thing in the middle of january. I got to the trail and left my pack with Torque. .1 back on the AT and .6 down a side trail is supposed to be one of the largest populor trees. It wasn't a bad walk to see a giant dead tree. While I was sitting there 2 people who were trail running came over to talk. One of them went northbound last year. The other in 03. We talked a little and yet another northbounder I met after their hike that I didn't remember seeing. Not too surprising. It is easy to miss someone. Back at the shelter Torque got a good amount of firewood. I decided not to help getting it since my back was hurting. I did help prep it and break them to size. I decided today that I was way dehydrated. That can't be good for the back muscles or anything else. I made a huge effort to drink up tonight. I drank at least 3 liters of water and 2 cups of hot choclate. Lets just say I was watering the leaves a lot. Diner tonight was fantastic. The appitizer was roasted mashmellows. The main course was steak cookled right on the fire. And dessert was pumken pie. I know we're ruffing it out here. The steak was great. No need for extra seasoning when it's cooked like this. Torque and I sat around the fire talking until well after 9pm. I don't know if I said it, but I think it is for the best that I had to take some time off. I am appresating it so much better know. I realize what I will be giving up when I leave. I think Torque put it best. People are probibly going to ask if it feels good to be able to call yourself a thru hiker or if you feel great having finished the hike. He said that he would rather not have that and still be out hiking. Very well put.