Date: 2004-02-06
From: Tray Mountain shelter

To: Hiawasse, GA (Holiday Inn Express)
Miles today: 10.6

Log entry: 6Starting time: 1015Ending time: 1530Morning wweather: rainy and 35 degAfternoon weather: hard rain 40Evening weather: clear and coldBreakfast: oats and CIBLunch: nothingDinner: Daniels Steakhouse BuffetTrail description: easy stretch, long and comfortable 3 mile downhillPeople: Hairless Joe, folks in HiwasseeWildlife: Midnight StarMoney spent: none?Biggest complaints: realized that my boots leaked and were falling apart (depressing), left shoulderThoughts: Narrative added 2/27/04I slept in later than usual because I was in no hurry to hike to Deep Gap shelter, it was only 7.1 miles. Hairless Joe also had no intentions of making a full day of it, especially since it was raining at a pretty good rate. Hairless Joe mentioned all the trail names of people that he had had contact with over the years. I mentioned the trailjournals and trailforums sites and he was excited. He said he had contact with Rocket, Bono, and the Flying Scotsman last year. I packed up as much wet, heavy gear as I could as quickly as I could since the rain was not letting up and it was already getting on 10:00. I said goodbye to Hairless Joe, who was still in his sleeping bag and ducked out into the rain by 1015. It rained solid and hard until about 1300. As I walked I noticed water squirting up out of the toes of my boots. The leather was separating from the sole. That made me quite sad. These were my hiking boots. I loved these. I had had them for 3 years and they never missed a beat. Never a blister. I was hoping they would last a couple more months, but alas, their number was up. By 1300 I made it to Deep Gap shelter. I signed the register and decided to head into Hiawassee, I thought I could use some time off and dry my stuff out.Just at the top of Powell Mountain I ran into 5 dudes out for a weekend hike. They were cool people, headed to Deep Gap Shelter for a relaxing evening.I made super time on the 3-mile downhill into Dicks Creek Gap. I ran most of the way. Once to the road, I couldn¢t decide how to get hitch into town. Should I just stand there or start walking? I think the best answer is to stand there because at Dicks Creek Gap at least there is a bump out where cars can pull off. I started walking and the road was too twisty and curved for most vehicles to be able to stop once they saw me anyways. Eventually, after a mile and a half I would guess, a nice dude in a pickup stopped and brought me the next 10 miles into Hiawassee. He dropped me off at the Hiawassee Inn and went about his business.The first thing I realized when I walked up to the office was a big closed for remodeling sign. I just spoke with a lady not 9 days ago and she said they would be open and available. I headed to a nearby gas station to call and see what¢s up when a dude came out of the station and asked if I was Ben. He had my food drop and said that they did not renew their lease at the Inn so for the time being they were not taking any hikers. He then offered me a ride tried to drop me off at Mulls but for $10 more a night I opted for the Holiday Inn. In my opinion, a wise choice. The clerk at the counter was a super nice gal and put me in a big room, I mean a nice, big, clean room. It even had a couch. Before long I had my pack emptied and gear strewn about all over the room. It looked like a REI store had thrown up. The nice clean hotel smell was also short lived. I put cold, damp rain gear back on and headed up 2 flights of stairs to do the laundry. While that was going on I journaled and read about all the fine things Hiawassee had to offer, namely restaurants. Once clothes were clean I hung my raingear and decided that I should get some food in me. I headed to the Daniels Steakhouse just across the parking lot and got a table near the buffet. Good eating. Hushpuppies and Mr. Pibb. That¢s about all I need to be happy.Once back at the hotel I sat on the couch with good intentions of doing something productive but instead watched Gone in 60 seconds, Third Watch, and then re-runs of Law and Order. That¢s the cool thing about cable. At any given time I have my choice of 2 different Law and Order shows, life is good.In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by 2 separate but equally important aspects of law enforcement. The police, who investigate crime. And the district attorneys that prosecute the offenders. These are their stories¢¦