Date: 2003-05-06
From: Brown Gap

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 3.1
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Tuesday, May 6Hot SpringsLeapfrog and 10-kid don't know where to start withpacking up their sodden gear.  I eat, trying to boostmy energy.  My packing up is a lot easier than theirs,except for the part where I keep my gear from rollingdown hill.Once packed up, we head back out into the storm.Going up the first hill, I feel weak and tired.  Theworld is a little swimmy, and I'm a lot nauseated.A hiker moving pretty fast passes me.  I ask him tohave 10-kid and Leapfrog wait for me.  They're notvery far ahead, but they can't hear my shouts overthe rain and wind.I tell them I'm bailing out at the next road.  "We'llcome with you!"  they chorus.  I start in on the apologiesand explanations, saying they can keep going andI'll meet up with them in a couple of days.  They don'tcare.  They want out too.  Nobody feels great andwe're all cold and wet.The next road is Max Patch Road.  10-kid gets there first.Just as she reaches the road, a forest service truckpulls up.  The driver rolls down the window an inch.We ask him to call the outfitter to shuttle us into town.He agrees, then drives off.  We start walking the "quarter mile"(more like a mile and a quarter) down to the intersectionjust to stay warm.A van pulls up.  The driver is the owner of Standing BearFarm.  He's shuttling slackpackers.  He offers to take usback to his place and bring us back tomorrow.  10-kid andLeapfrog want to go, but I want to go to Hot Springs.  Mycompanions glare at me but decide to stay with me ratherthan get in the warm van without me.  They promise unpleasantdeath if our called-for shuttle doesn't arrive.The driver checks with us again on his way back out.  I amso going to die if that shuttle doesn't come.The mailman drives by and tells us we're walking the wrongway.  He better watch out.. he could die too.The forest service truck comes back.  The driver gets out andwaits with us.  We ask him to radio in and make sure the shuttleis really coming.  We're getting cold.  10-kid is turning blue.Leapfrog is shaking.  I'm numb.  We group hug for extra warmth.A big old truck painted in camo drives up.  It's the Hot SpringsFire Department!  We're being rescued!  Not quite the shuttlewe expected.  We are pathetically grateful to see him.  I don'tsay too much, concentrating on keeping my stomach contentsinside me.The drive to Hot Springs is long and windy.  Johnny tells usabout washed out roads, high water, and tornadoes.  Suddenlyit makes all kinds of sense to get out of the woods.He drops us off at Elmer's and refuses payment.  Awww..There is room at Elmer's!  Paul the cook hands us all dry towelsas we walk in the door.  He starts the house tour as the powergoes out.  The power stays out until midnight.  Gee, I guess wecan't do laundry today.In sort of dry clothes again, we go across to the Smokey MountainDiner to see if we can get food.  They'll serve us anything cooked withgas, so we have a hot meal.  Boy, that was good.We hear that everybody in town is closing up due to lack of electricity.The hot springs are flooded.  Dang!  No soaking for me.The sun comes out for a little bit.  We hang our gear, hoping to dry itat least a little.We have dinner with Elmer.  It's fantastic, but I have to excusemyself and race out of the room.  This nausea thing bites.  Leapfrogpersuades me to come back in the room and have some mint tea.I fall asleep almost immediately afterward and sleep forever.