Date: 2006-03-15
From: Franklin, North Carolina

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

I was just at a hotel this morning. Woke up and packed the packs, ate sausage, egg and cheese hot pockets, then watched over an hour of Saved By The Bell. All this, while waiting for the shuttle to finally take us out of Franklin and get us back where we belong, with a "small child" on our backs and groaning feet! I have to give thanks again to Ron from Budget Inn who took amazing care of us and made us want to stay in Franklin forever! He piled a few of us on his bus this morning along with good ol'Crutch on his way to do his trail magic, and we were off, feet itching to be hiking-not tired at all from the 24.4 yesterday (we would later come to realize just how tired they were)--but anyway--rides with Ron are always interesting. He never runs out of good stories. And as we sat at a construction stop-watching the traffic guy spit out his tobacco and use his sleeve to wipe it off his chin, Ron did his best good ol' boy impressions and reminded us that "a family that drinks together, gets drunk together". Thanks Ron, words to live by!!So the day started out easy enough. 4 miles up hill toward our very first Bald on the AT-Siler Bald. And it was pretty cool, although they looked like someone mows it, and cuts down the baby trees to keep it a "bald", but it looks like its doing its damnedest not to be one. Tourist Trap?? Anyway, it worked for us. However, soon after the descent from Siler our feet began protesting and for the first time yet, I can safely say I was running low on energy, although it wasn't until miles later that I actually admitted it. Stubborn taurus that I am!Our hiking spirits were somewhat lifted when we climbed up to Wayah Bald and found such an amazing view waiting for us. We could see Albert Mountain from that perch and it looked a hundred miles away. So cool to thing we had been looking out from that summit less than a day ago. Major confidence booster when you see the mountains you have climbed behind you. I tell my feet, "Yeah, we are kickin butt and takin names, and lovin life!" But, then the 5.5 left to the shelter sets in and my feet respond with "you're a big jerk, why are you using us in the way???"Swansons and I had spent most of the morning discussing how best to kick out miles to catch our buddies--we actually were insane enough to consider doing 19 miles today and 21 miles tomorow. But the "sense angel" appeared and we realized how naive it would be for us to kick our own butts so early on in the hike. So, we are only going to kick butt a little and we will catch them when we catch them. Good thing we made that choice. By the time we had 3.5 miles left to go, our feet were scraming, and we were becoming delirious--playing strange games, like picnic and saying odd things like "if my feet had a phone they'd dial 911 right now!! Not, that the terrain was all that tough, just today was one of those days. I knew it would come sooner or later. We were a bit burned out.But, as things have a funny way of working themselves out, an awesome, terribly amazing thing happened to us just when we thought we were going to collapse. We were heading down into Burningtown Gap, hurting and exhausted-dreading the 1.4 miles-300 foot some odd climb into the shelter after the gap, when just ahead a sign appeared!!!!   Trail magic!!!! Yes!! touchdown dance!!! The pain drained away as we saw a tent set up in the gap, and the "always good sign" of backpacks scattered outside. Apple, the trail angel was giving out candy and soda and a chair to sit on!! Every step is worth it!! Trail Magic or no Trail magic, today, I would still be sitting here happy and content with our little adventure out here. But, it is cold tonight so it is time to literally, hide in my sleeping bad.JUST A LITTLE NOTE: I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR SIGNING MY GUEST BOOK AND FOR ALL YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND INSPIRATION. WHENEVER I HAVE A BAD MOMENT, OR A DOUBT IN MY MIND, ALL YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS HELP ME ALONG. SO THANK YOU!!!!!