Date: 2012-04-10
From: Allen Gap

To: Devil Gap
Miles today: 20.2

As you can probably tell from the picture, Rog's surprise last night was an hour long soak in the Hot Springs waters. We were in a three sided enclosure which was open on the side facing the flowing river. It was a beautiful location. We were there from 8 to 9 so we got to watch the sun set and the stars come out. This morning we got up and packed up the car. After checking out, we went to the Diner for breakfast and ran into Old Blue Eyes and his wife Kathleen who was visiting him. On we went to Allen Gap where Rog got out and started on his longest day yet...thank goodness he is slack packing! I drove on to new territory and of course it was windy twisty but then after about 10 miles...a surprise as I found myself on an interstate highway!! I felt like I was flying...going 65 miles an hour?? Wow, after going 10-30 it felt strange. I ended up in Erwin, TN and went to the visitor's center to see what I could find out about this town.My first stop was the library which is housed in the former train station. It is a beautiful building but I wanted to offer my services to organize the place!!(Have you guessed that I love libraries and can't help critiquing them as I go?) It was a little less than welcoming but it did have working computers so I could check email and the guest book on our journal.I checked out all the shops...that didn't take long and then went back to my room in the Super 8 to read. Rog called and said to pick him up about 7:15. I left town about 6 because I like to be early so he doesn't have to ever wait on me. I took a side trip to the welcome center and then wondered how to get back on my path since Edith Chloe (our GPS)doesn't tell you how when you choose to not listen to what she said! I did find my way and this time Rog was off by 15 min. as he came down the path at 7pm! I had 2 hamburgers and 3 oatmeal cookies waiting for him which he rapidly ate. I drove him back the 17 miles to our room (he could be getting spoiled with me driving:-)) He needed to do laundry but on the way a train was sitting still on the tracks so we went to McDonald's so we could write this journal. SOS will now describe his walk today...Today was the coldest day on the trail and it has been exactly 1 month since we started. It was also the roughest trail I have hiked so far and the easiest trail. I hiked on a ridge and thought I had lost the trail when the only option I had was to go 10 feet basically straight down and 10 feet up the otherside. I backtracked having learned my lesson taking the Boulevard Trail to Mount LeConte in the Smoky's. I did not see a white blaze so I returned to the 10 feet down site. I went down and up and still was not sure. When I turned around and looked back the white blaze was on the 10 feet up on the other side.About 5 miles from that indecision, I came across what appeared to be an abandoned mountain trail and the white blazes followed it for about two miles, that was easy part.I spent the day listening to music on my I-Touch. Roy Orbison brought back some great memories of a camping trip with brother-in-law Bill and his wife Renee. It is great to remember good times from the past. The song was "Dream Baby". I also thought of my Dad when I listened to "Danny Boy". He sang it often when he was shaving. He had a great voice and I loved to listen to him sing.See you up the trail.