Date: 2016-03-06
From: Woody gap 

To: Bull Gap
Miles today: 12.0

The wind howled through the gap last night. Everyone whom we talked to today commented on it. Willard and I were still up early and moving about. He commented to me that the chimney in the pit toilet was flowing backwards with the wind, creating what he called an "air-bidet." Not what you want. We headed out earlier than most everyone, and were soon greeted to the most spectacular morning views I've ever seen. Range upon range of foggy blue mountains to our east. I've never seen mountains quite so gentle, so peaceful, so neverending. The next miles were chill down and then up over a number of bumps approaching Blood Mountain, the AT's highest point in Georgia. We leapfrogged with a few folks we had seen the day before, among them Jason, who had to abort a thru-Hike he started on the 26th and just restarted on our day. (by the way, I forgot to mention. Kendra pointed out on day 1 that we began on an auspicious day for a hike: March 4th, aka March Forth.) The climb up Blood Mountain was not nearly as hard as I was expecting. The top looked like I expected Georgia to look: laurels crowding the trail, summery weather, rocks. But there was also snow, the first we'd seen in a day. We ate atop Blood Mountain and found Adam, one of the only hikers (we've seen) from the bubble we passed who is moving as fast as we are. The trail down to Neel Gap was flooded with day hikers and was the most technical terrain we've seen so far. Willard reprised his ability to zone out and motor right before a destination, and he arrived at the road crossing a minute or two before I did. Mountain Crossings was a zoo. Neel gap, as Willard informed me, finds itself along a motorcycle route known as The Dragon, and there must have been forty or more bikers and their bikes in the lot. A church group, to our joy, was making free burgers and offering to talk about Christ! We just took them up on the burgers. I went in and did a bit of restock. I didn't have quite enough to make it the three days I think it will take us to make it to Hiawassee. Unfortunately, the outfitter has not yet received my Leatherman, which I sent on Thursday. I will try and call them to see if they will ship it up further along the trail. Other hikers pulled in and seemed ready to stay for the evening. Willard and I snuck into the hostel bunk room and decided it looked far too junky to want to stay there rather than camp out in the perfect weather. After the longest round of pictures I've ever seen with the church group, Willard and I pushed on. I had started feeling pretty terrible when we got to Neel gap. I felt nauseated and tired and too hot. The mile climb up to Bull Gap was pretty miserable, and when I got here, I stripped to just my shorts and sat in the shade sipping water for a half hour. I thought it was mild heat stroke but soon I was cold and hydrated and still not feeling better. I set up my tent and lay down for quite a long time. When we arrived, four people were already here, Holly and BlisterJuice, sisters from southern Virginia, Massasoit, a loud mouth Patriot-fan from Massachusetts, and Rambo, who sported intricate back tattoos and a giant brown beard. Soon, a section hiker named Rock pulled up and set his stuff next to ours. He's a section hiker from Birmingham and is trying to make it to Franklin in four more days. We talked with him for most of the evening. I forced myself to get up and eat dinner around 5. My lymph node and sinuses on my right sides were swollen, and swallowing was a painful challenge. I choked down some dinner, and by the time it was done, I felt nearly better! I was so worried that I would have to abandon Willard and the trail to go get this checked out, but the Advil and the rest seemed to help. I had no doubt in my mind that I would have back on the trail as soon as I could. The night was warmer than the last, and Willard, Rock and I stood out and talked for a long time before heading to our tents. More good weather is in the cards, and the next three days should be pretty easy. Gnight!