Date: 2006-04-16
From: N of No Business Knob Shelter, Tn

To: Erwin, Tn
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: scattered clouds

6.1 miles todayHoliday Inn ExpressErwin, Tn19,498 foot steps todayMy flat spot I found last night to set up my tent on wasn't completely flat. It slanted to the side a little.That always makes it hard for me to sleep well, so I turned a bunch last night.I know better!!!! :-)))I woke up at 6am and thought about not making my coffee this morning because town was so close, but over-ruled that thought and stuck my stove out the tent door to brew my Starbuck's.I only had 6 miles to Erwin, but I figured I would have a better 6 miles if I had my coffee.The sad part of this morning was that I was all out of fruit pies. :-(((I had a ProBar and have to say that although I thought I liked them at one time, I can't hardly eat them anymore. Bad breakfast!!!I was packed up and walking by 7am.It was another way too mild morning for this time of year. It was about 60 degrees and humid.The only person I saw was a trail maintainer by the name of Itsy Bitsy Spider who had walked the AT in the early 70's and the PCT in the early 00's.We talked about 10 minutes before he continued south and I walked on north.I got to where I could see the Nolichuchy River from the cliffs. I kept walking and got to the trailhead at 9:10am.It was 9:20am when I left Fontana last Sunday, so it took me 10 minutes less than a week to get here. :-)))I walked right on to the convenience store about 1 1/2 miles away and bought a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts to munch on while I waited for the Long John Silver's to open at 10am.(I only ate half of them though)When the restaurant opened I got a 2 piece fish dinner and a root beer.I was wasting time so I didn't get to the motel too early.I saw some smoke across the highway at the base of a mountain and thought it was just another controlled burn, but found out as the day went on that it had been an act of arson.The mountain side was on fire all day, but they finally got it under control and I later heard they caught the guy that set the fire.I walked over to the Holiday Inn Express about 11am and checked in.I reserved the room for two days, but wasn't sure whether I'd be here for that long.Handlebar was in the lobby working on the computer.When I first saw him, I thought it was just someone staying here at the motel because he was in street clothes, but I could see he was on Trail Journals, so I looked closer and realized who it was.We've met a couple times on the trail this year already.I walked over and he introduced me to his wife, who had come down to visit....and brought the street clothes. :-)))He said he was going to Miss Janet's later for Easter Dinner and offered me a ride.I went upstairs and got clean!!! I needed that shower and so did my clothes. :-)))I spent nearly 30 minutes in the shower washing me and my clothes.I went downstairs to use the computer and saw Outbreak working on it and Morning Fit was also there.When they were done, I posted one journal entry that I had ready. Sorry Bluebearee, but Hammock Hanger didn't send me your email address to send the entries to you. (Hammock Hanger is my transcriber this year and she's out playing this week and Bluebearee was going to post my entries until she got back)I met Handlebar in the lobby at 12:50 pm. There were 6 of us riding over to Miss Janet's....Handlebar, Iron Wolf, Free At Last, Outbreak, Morning Fit and myself.We got there to a house full of hikers. Miss Janet fed over 50 hikers a fantastic Easter dinner.She is one of the best people I know and it's because of her heart and untiring help for hikers that I say that. She's the best!!!I saw some of the hikers that I've mentioned lately, but there were so many that I couldn't begin to name them all.I did get a big hug from Miss Janet!! :-)))I talked to Mala some before he took off and I talked to Jack some and Heald, but mostly I just ate. :-)))I had ham, turkey and about every kind of fixin that you could think of and then went back for seconds.I've worked up quite an appetite in just a week of walking.We hung around for a while talking, but I was glad to leave when we did because it was so busy there.Thanks Miss Janet....you are THE BEST!!!I got back to the motel and got my free pint of ice cream for staying here. The motel gives every hiker a free pint of ice cream for every day they're here and I needed more desert. :-)))I ate that and I spent the sfternoon in my room and answered about 35 emails.That made me hungry, so I walked next door and bought a bag of potato chips and got a milkshake and a double deluxe cheesburger, then brought it back to the room and ate dinner.I think I finally filled up the void in my stomach. Ha!!! :-)))When I went back down to the lobby for some coffee, I saw Red and Kate checking in.They had just hiked in and said they were thinking of taking a zero.I got on the phone and called a few friends, then ended up getting a call back from Shortcut and we must have talked for well over an hour.I'm still not sure what I'm doing tomorrow. I've tossed the idea of taking a zero or slacking, but I may just take it easy all morning and hike out at noon.I think I found out why I was so tired yesterday...well, maybe two reasons; it was record setting heat for this area and I was hungry!! :-)))I'm feeling much better sitting here in this motel room with the AC blasting away and a full belly. It looks like I might just survive after all. :-)))