Date: 2003-04-15
From: Nolichucky Gorge (Miss Janet's Hostel)

To: Nolichucky Gorge (Miss Janet's Hostel)
Miles today: 0.0

Day 33   Avg Mls/Day 10.2Weather: More gorgeous weather¢¦Sunny, warm, few clouds, light breeze¢¦I should be on the Trail.For dinner last night, went to THE local spot called the Erwin Burrito. Had a huge bar-b-q beef burrito and a nice garden salad with lemonade to wash it down. Kind of hung around the house and relaxed while Miss Janet sewed the ripped seam in my guide pants. Thanks Miss Janet!¢¦saved me from embarrassment as I am a very modest, mild mannered person. Didn¢t sleep too badly for being in the bunkroom with 5 others. Not too many loud snores and little commotion. I was the first one up around 6:30 and immediately made coffee. Shortly thereafter, an older gent walks in and starts bending my ear. He comes by to post the weather report (which was sunny and warm today, chance of showers tomorrow). Later, Miss Janet tells me he is manic-depressive who does some section hiking. He told me himself that he was recently mistaken for a vagrant and was directed to a church shelter for help. A few minutes later one could hear someone sick in the bathroom. It was Lemming, who has been here for, like 5 days, and was to hit the Trail with Goldberry this morning. Guess that won¢t happen. The ¢24 flu bug¢ has been happening up and down the Trail. When we got in yesterday, a young hiker was wrapped in a blanket in the living room recovering from it. Drifter, who slept in the bunk next to me, said he had it on the Trail and thought it was a bad freeze dried meal.I have finally got Rich and Cindy¢s trail names down. They are De Ja Vu and Songbird. If you recall, they slept on the upper level of the shelter my first night out along with Skittles and Mag. They were next out of bed and we talked for a while. In comes Miss Janet and she puts me to work. She pulls out the griddle and has me frying up 3# of bacon for breakfast. Hey, I¢m supposed to be relaxing and enjoying myself, not slaving away in the kitchen. Next thing I know she is strapping an apron on me and everyone is snapping my picture. Somehow they got the mistaken impression that I¢ve never cooked before. We had a great breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruit coffee and oh yeah, a friend brought over some terrific fresh donuts and pastries. As good a breakfast as you could want¢¦.and, of course, everyone admitted that the bacon was the best they¢ve ever had. Just as we were going around the table to introduce ourselves it was 9:15 and I had to be at the dentist so off I went.The dentist was a great guy, Michael R Tittle DDS. He filled in the gap where the molar piece broke off and only charged me $40. I didn¢t think that was so bad especially since he worked me right in. If you¢re hiking in the area and need emergency dental work, I would recommend that you look him up.When I left the dentist office to walk a mile back to town, I was walking against the traffic on the opposite side of the road when a guy in a pick up hollers out and asks if I want a ride into town. The people here are very nice. They often wave from cars as you walk along the sidewalks. He drops me off at the bank where I get some cash out of the ATM and then head to the library for the rest of the morning. There, I visited Trailjournals and hung out until lunch. I was saddened to see some who had to drop out due to injury like Sunshine Man and Wander Yander. They so much wanted to do the Trail. And then there are others who have been caught on the Trail in horrible weather like Molasses. Like I said, timing is everything. Went to lunch at a ¢McDonalds like hamburger place called the Sonic. As I was finishing lunch I see Just Do It and Itchy Foot coming from the Post Office across the street. We chat for a minute and they are off to Miss Janets. I go back to the library to finish visiting the Internet and type up this entry. Tonight I need to pack my food bag and the rest of my gear, to get back out on the Trail in the morning. I¢m hoping Mule will show up, but am holding out hope as most take 5 days to get here from Hot Springs. Let¢s hope his shin has healed and we can reunite somewhere north of here. Goldberry said she would be back on the Trail today, even though Lemming is laid up and they had planned to head out together.I¢m hoping Miss Janet or someone is offering rides to the Pizza Hut buffet tonight. It will be at least a week before the next Trail town. Charlie is going back out tomorrow; perhaps I can catch him at the first shelter/campsite.Thought for the Day: Erwin and Miss Janets Rocks!