Date: 2008-03-22
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm 
Miles today: 23.03
Weather: clear sky

Up before first light in order to get moving early this was going to be a long day 23+ miles which at this stage is bordering on the side of lunacy but I had an ulterior motive for this moment of madness. The goal was to reach Standing Bear Farm a great hostel owned and ran by Curtis Owens and his wife they are without doubt some of the greatest people you could meet on the trail and there hostel is unique and a place not to be missed.The sun was just peeking over the mountains to the East as I set of in pursuit of the Holy Grail of Standing Bear. The trail is good here and gently rises towards Mount Sequoyah at 6,609' but there was still plenty of ice about just to keep me on my toes and concentrating where I was putting my feet, I followed the path as it twisted around the various features rarely does it drop below 6'000' at this stage in the day.I passed Tri Corner Knob Shelter without stopping but shortly after stopped to strip of my wind pants and jacket, as I stripped off to my shorts I swore that I could hear Banjo music, then I remembered that at Newfound Gap I had crossed another State Line and I was now in Tennessee, time to hike faster.I hiked on without stopping for lunch as I estimated that I would be at Standing Bear between 17:30 and 18:00 which if my memory was not failing me and if things had not changed would be about the time that Curtis would be shuttling hikers to town for food and beer which was the ulterior motive I mentioned earlier.I dropped into Davenport Gap at a little after 16:00 which left a little under 3 miles to go, I pushed on after exchanging a few words with a leather clad biker who was taking a pee in the gap. Nice bike but beware of men wearing leather chaps especialy when the have their pecker in their hand!!!!!!!!!!!!I hiked quickly on casting a very cautious eye over my shoulder for the first few hundred yards into the woods. I crossed the stream and hit a cooler full of Soda's and cookies left by a Trail Angel just before the Pigeon River, I had a coke and put a grateful entry in the notebook where I noted that Southside and Bull (Chad) had passed through just over an hour before.Crossing the Interstate 1/40 I got a sort of freindly nod from a very large passing sherrif who must have been forced into the car that was definately two small for his frame there again he would have a gun so he did not need to outrun me but it would have been fun to see him try as the next mile or so to Curtis's place is brutal. Sweating profusly I crossed the little stream and turned left towards Standing Bear Farm where I knew I would be greated by smiling hikers as this place is awesome. I got in and dropped my pack and met many old and some new faces most importantly the beer run had not yet left. Mission complete 23.3 miles with my feet threatening to mutiny me, I showered and joined the others for food and drink. Great food great people after sitting by the fire into the night and exchanging stories I retired very satified to bed.What a great day.No photos for the last few entries but I will add some later in the week.