Date: 2009-03-27
From: Cheese Factory Campsite, GA 

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: moderate rain

When I woke up this morning, it was still raining. I was only planning a short day of 9.5 miles to the Deep Gap Shelter, so I was in no hurry to get the day started. I answered some emails and surfed the net (checked the weather forecast -- more rain) a bit on my blackberry before finally pulling myself out of my cocoon of feathers. I went out to get my feed bag and was happy to see it hanging in the tree exactly where I put it the night before although it was a soggy mess. I eat a Bear Valley bar for breakfast and like to eat it while I'm packing up. I'm not much of a breakfast person, but I know I need some calories and nutrition to start the day. These bars have between 400 and 500 calories a piece and have lots of nutritional value and lots of fiber. They are pretty dry as well which forces me to drink a lot of water to start the day, also a good thing. Anyway, it takes a lot longer to pack up in the rain, but finally got everything in place and started walking a little after nine. I meant to take a picture of my campsite as it was quite sweet hidden away in what I think are rhododendrons, but I forgot. Darn. The rain was relentless today and the trail was a soupy mess. Yesterday I saw a beautiful waterfall perpendicular to the trail, today the trail was the waterfall. There was a part that I felt like I was walking down one of those water fountains where the water cascades down from one bowl to the next. The major sounds I heard today were the rain pelting my rain hood and the splash, splash of my feet on the trail. Going downhill is crazy! Since most hikers this time of year are headed north, the downhills become a slip and slide. No kidding. My hiking poles saved me more than once from sliding off the side of the mountain. The flat sections of the trail were just deep, soupy mud. No sense in trying to avoid any of this. Just realize that being wet and muddy is the theme of the day. You can only get so wet. I did go splat once today. I was on a flat section and when I put my left foot down it just went flying sideways to the right and down I went into a huge puddle of mud. At least the mud puddle was very soft and my fall was cushioned. My whole left side was covered in mud including my pack. I just got up and continued hiking. After a few minutes the rain had rinsed all the mud from both me and my pack. Today was a day where you just put your head down and walk. A southbound hiker had the same approach and we were just feet from colliding with each other before we noticed each other. I was excited to see another hiker and smiled broadly and said hi. He just smiled weakly and walked past. Oh well. There was one section where there were large boulders laying at an angle on their side. Huge, wet boulders on the edge of a cliff are fun to negotiate let me tell you. Ha. I saw evidence of where other hikers had fallen throughout the day. One looked like he had fallen several feet off the trail. I watch some hikers walking as fast through the mud as they do when dry. Not me, I plod slowly up hill and just as slow downhill deliberately placing my feet. Two young guys went flying past me later in the day and they were literally skiing down the hills. I continued at my own slow pace. Those two scared the crap out of me since I had my rain hood on and didn't hear them come up on me until they were just feet behind me. A little hello would have been nice. I don't know what proper etiquette is when you come up behind another hiker, but if I know you are there I will quickly get out of the way and let you pass. All I ask is that you please say something: hello, on your left, get out of the way slowpoke. I don't care, but something would be nice. I guess they may have just had there head down hiking and they did look like two young men with a mission to get to town. I got to Deep Gap Shelter at 2:45 to find a four sided, double-decker shelter. Usually they only have three sides and are completely open on the front. This one only had a doorway size entrance and it was very dark and dreary inside. There were only two hikers staying there who seemed a bit beaten down. They had had a rough start with a friend hiking with them getting sick at the very beginning. The lower level of the shelter was wet and muddy and I just didn't think spending the afternoon there was going to be very funny. Hiawassee was only 3.5 miles down the trail and I knew I could get there before dark. Only question: could I get a room with all the other hikers that were surely headed to town. I was down in a gap and didn't think I would get cell coverage, but I did. Yeah! I looked up the number of the Holiday Inn Express in my data book and made a reservation. Knowing I had a room made the walk down the trail a very leisurely stroll while I thought about the pizza that had started calling my name. Yum!I got to the road and got a quick hitch into town. Two very nice gentlemen that showed me all the stops that a hiker might want while in town. I checked in and immediately saw a couple of hikers that I had met before Neels Gap. One wanted to yak, but I standing there dripping in the lobby just wanted to get to my room. When I got to my floor, I saw three more familiar faces that were off to dinner. They invited me to dinner, but I declined as I just wanted to get out of my wet clothes and take a shower. All clean! Well, me anyway. My clothes were in a soggy mess on the floor and my pack was in need of some serious attention. However, before I tackled this mess I left a message for Mark the Fabulous on his cell phone, home phone and email that I had gotten into town and to call me! Then I tried ordering a pizza. The one place that looked liked they delivered said that no they didn't. I called the front desk, but the dude said that no restaurant in town delivered. What!?! A town that doesn't have pizza delivered? Unbelievable. I started emptying out the pack and hanging stuff on any surface available. Took my clothes to the washing machine and ran into three hikers hanging out in the hallway. It seems like they put all the hikers in the same section of the hotel, because they know we are going to be cleaning muddy, wet stuff. I tried really hard to not make too much of a mess. While out there talking, I told of my dismay of not getting my pizza when a hiker that has been laid up here for a week after he injured his knee said that Smokings BBQ delivers pizza and he had a menu. Yippee!! Right into my room I go to place an order then what to my dismay I find out that they close at 8. Huh? You've got to be kidding me. Close at 8 on a Friday night!?! Pizza was just not to be tonight. Major bummer. Now my clothes are clean, my equipment is clean and drying and I'm just relaxing. Would have been happier with my pizza that I thought about for 3.5 miles, but happy and content anyways. I can get a pizza tomorrow. I finally got to talk to Mark and that was way better than a pizza anyway.