Date: 2007-03-20
From: Cherry Creek Gap Shelter, TN

To: Greasy Creek Hostel ~ Friendly, NC
Miles today: 10.0

"Fruitfly" was up about an hour before dawn and was doing 24 miles to The Overmountain Shelter. He was gone at daylight and was getting on to "Salamader" about sleeping in and told me to not push myself too hard(sarcastically). About 30 minutes later "Salamander" woke up and he was soon on his way. Recently, I am having real trouble waking up. I did wake up when my first female thru-hiker "Juniper" showed up. I felt a little embarrased at waking up so late as she had just hiked from Beauty Spot. She was constantly laughing and smiling. She had a great spirit. She said that she had read my journals and thought I was crazy. I wondered if she meant good or bad crazy? She ate a snack and was on her way. I told her with her trail name she had to listen to The Donavan song JENNIFER JUNIPER. After she left, I thought that these three hikers that I met in the last day were serious hikers. Always doing 20 plus miles a day. And along with Boone, Ramblin Rose, & Woodstock; whom I had met at Miss Janet's, I felt a little weak. I could not wait to get over Mt Rogers to drop about 10 pounds of winter gear. I could bust some miles out then; but, until then, I think 15-20 will be my max. All the weight just kills my feet(excuses, excuses). Well, anyway, I got going and saw that it was not even noon yet! This is still kind of early for me. I took out over about 5 "puds", until I descended down to Iron Mtn Gap. On my way down, I noticed a package from "Hawkeye". The guy I spent the night with at Siler Bald Shelter in the Smokies. He had some Jumbalaya, some fuel, and a ginseng ginger ale in a trash bag. It was great! I then climbed out of Iron Mtn Gap which is a haul of about a mile up. Then you go down through an old apple orchard. I like coming here in the summer and eating all the fresh apples I can stomach. Then after "pud" after "pud"; I come to Greasy Creek Gap. I stayed at the hostel down .6 miles to the East before. Because I had been here before, I did not check my guidebook and proceeded to go west, the wrong way down. I did not notice this mistake for about a mile. Then I checked the guidebook and saw my mistake. In all my years, this was only the second time that I became lost on the AT. I was really upset with myself as I did not want to get all worn out today. My hike went from a 7 mile day to a 10 mile day in a flash. Ive learned from mistakes like this in the past, that I cannot think about it, and just start plugging to my destination. As I was climbing back up, I was cussing myself something fierce. I find it hard to forgive myself sometimes. I did pretty good. I got up and over the ridge and down to The Greasy Creek Friendly w/o stopping but once, to drink from a spring. Now the neighbor to the friendly is a "weirdo". He has a fence around his property; but, his dogs get about 2 feet from you on the old sunken road past his property to the hostel. He was yelling at his dogs to "sick" me. I have been here before; so, I know this guys deal. He tries to run hikers off so they will not stay here. It was quite a night. He mows his lawn till 11pm and starts up again at 4am. He has several different sirens on the mower. He shot a machine gun with about 30 rounds into the air. He also had some country music blarring with a "blood curtling" yell. According to the lady here, this guy ran her husband off; but, he will not run her off. She was nice and made me a good salad and two big bowls of spaghetti.