Date: 2009-04-01
From: Franklin, NC

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm zeroing (hiking 0 miles today) in Franklin today. I need to do laundry, buy a few things at the store, hit the outfitters and mail a package home. I also need to plan out my next two sections, so that I can make my reservations at The Hike Inn as they suggested. I don't know if you can tell, but I am having some problems with the cooler temperatures. A lot of hikers think that these are perfect temperatures to hike in, but I can't take a break for more than 5 minutes. Even if I put on more layers, I start to feel very chilled after just a few minutes. I'm okay while moving, so I just try to keep moving with short breaks for enjoying my surroundings, taking pictures and for snacks. I feel a bit anti-social at camp at night as well. I have to put on my dry sleeping thermals, down jacket and booties as soon as I get to camp. I then quickly fix and eat dinner and jump in my sleeping bag. Everyone else takes a more leisurely approach to the evening and stays out awhile chatting and comparing their day. It is not really a problem, but I long for warmer days and nights. I'm a little concerned about heading into the Smokies, because I know that the potential is there for cold/snowy weather. I bought an additional warm layer and some hand warmers at the outfitters today for insurance. I also bought some fingerless gloves so I can journal during the evening even if it is cold. I had a pair of fingerless gloves, but shrank them when I washed them in Neels Gap. Whoops! I am also trying to plan my nights at a lower elevation if possible. There is some sunshine in the forecast for the next couple of days and I'm excited to see the sun! The warmth of the sun allows me to take longer breaks, rest my feet and enjoy some scenic places longer. I have split my hike into 32 sections and I have completed three! I try to just focus on completing one section at a time, instead of thinking of the whole journey. My next section is to the NOC and it is a short section. . 107.7 miles complete - 2070.6 miles to go. My body is holding up very well so far. The only ache I have is my feet at the end of the day. I'm hoping that they get used to the pounding, tree roots, rocks and mud puddles before too long. Yesterday, my Achilles tendon in my right foot was sore. I'm not sure why it got sore, but I'm hoping that some stretching takes care of that. I also have some very chapped lips. I'm using Burts Beeswax, but they are still chapped. I haven't been putting my Burts into my feedbag at night. I wonder if I should start doing that?I forgot to mention the other day while hiking out of Hiawassee that I met Trekin' Girl. I had been reading her journal before I left and it was neat to meet her. She was eating lunch sitting next to a very large tree. I talked with her a few minutes. She said she was spending the night at a campsite at Blys Gap and when I got there and felt the wind I was concerned for her. It was so cold there. When I got to Franklin, I looked her up on Trail Journals and found that she survived the night okay. Thank goodness!I also met Eleanor Rose at the Muskrat Creek Shelter. I would have liked to have talked to her for awhile, but didn't want to stay for the night there with the fraternity party vibe I was feeling. She seemed like a very nice hiker. I hiked this last section with Huck Finn that is from my hometown of Hamilton, Ohio. I told him I miss Gold Star chili and then I thought of Richard's Steak sandwich and now I want one of those. LOL. When I say hiked, I mean that we camped at the same location each night. Huck, Many Names and Too Tall walked way too fast for me to keep up. They'd start way after me, pass me, take long breaks during the day to include a 2 hour nap one day and still be at the same campsite in the evening. Great upbeat group of hikers though. I enjoyed hiking with them. They left Franklin today and I don't know when I'll see them. I'm bummed because I didn't get there picture. I'm still having a wonderful time and know that I just have to deal with the cooler temps. When it does warm up or the sun does come out, the cooler days will make me appreciate those moments even more. Well, time for some shut-eye.