Date: 2015-04-16
From: Bald Mountian Shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: light rain

I set my alarm for 630 to get an early start. It wasn't raining!!! Wohoo! The shelter was on the side of a mountian and I could see the sun!! It was chilly and foggy where i was though. I decided to hike in my dry laundry clothes (the clothes I wear when I do laundry) instead of trying to put my wet clothes on. I did put my rain pants and jacket on, really cold and wet but they dry fast. I packed up my wet tent and moved out of camp at 730. It was a fairly easy start. An uphill and then a bunch of downhill. It was a lovely morning for hiking! Cool and foggy and NO RAIN!!! Although with everything being wet it made things a bit tricky. A lot of sliding in the mud. At one point I slipped on some roots and landed right on my butt.It was on a down hill so it was like I was sitting on stairs. So I just pulled out a granola bar and ate a quick snack! Haha!   At some point while I was walking my water bottle fell out of the side oocket. Usually it's stuck in there so well a crane wouldn't be able to pull it out. But anyways as I was picking it up a hiker came along behind me. It was Esinberg. I've seen him at a few stops I've made. So it was nice to catch up and chat for a bit. A little bit later The sun came out!! I stopped for lunch at 1230. I had gone about 10.5 miles by then. I stopped at the No Business Shelter for lunch. Papalou was stopped there as well. He's been at every stop I've made since I left Hot Springs. He always asks about my cold, lol. I felt bad the other night. We were Tenting close and I was worried my coughing was going to keep him awake. We chatted for a bit. Both of us trying to make it into Erwin. He took off while I finished eating. After lunch I had a little overy 6 miles to go. It was a fairly decent hike. A few shirt uphills and mostly down hill. Some of the views were pretty amazing. It was such a great day! So much better than yesterday! I made it to Uncle Johnnys a little after 330. I was pretty exhausted and my feet were killing me. I picked up my 2 boxes. One was a resupply from my Dad and Mimi and another was a suprise box from Sunny Smiles!! She sent cookies and gummy worms! So exciting and a great mood lifter. My dad was amazing and called me last night and said he would get me a hotel room in Erwin. To recover from my cold and the rain! I was so excited. I called the shuttle the hotel gave me. A guy named Tom. He was awesome. He shuttles hikers all day. He started at 730 this morning and hadn't been home all day...he usually finishes up about 8pm. Crazy!He dropped me off at the hotel. I couldn't wait to take a shower and get everything dry. I spread my tent out in the room to dry out. Along with everything else in my pack. I showered and then headed to the laundromat. It was a bit of a walk. The attendant was nice enough to say she would throw my clothes in the dryer so I ran out to the grocery store. I got a few things for my pack and a few things for dinner tonight. I also grabbed some cough medicine. Bybthe time ingot back my clothes were almost done in the dryer. They had a poster there for thru-hikers to sign! I recognized a few of the signatures. On the walk back to the hotel I met up with one of the Warrior Hikers. I've seen him a few places. We chatted all the way back to the hotel. Turns out his trail name is Trail Pilgram!! I've read his journal! I knew I was catching up to him and I was so excited to meet him!! Now just relaxing in the hotel. The first time I've turned on a tv in over a month. Haha.Back to the trail tomorrow. Only planning on a few miles