Date: 2007-03-21
From: Cheese Factory Campsite

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: scattered clouds

March 21, The Magic ContinuesWoke up arund 7:30 today to 46 degrees. Works for me. I took my time getting packed up in hopes of the breakfast our trail angels had promised but as it got later I just decided to make my oatmeal since it didn't seem like they were going to be up. I refilled my fuel bottle with the fuel they had offered and even emptied my trash! Then...just as I was putting the final stitches of duct tape on my feet, they come rolling out of their tent. I didn't even think I was hungry but that's when the eating fiesta began. They made eggs and pancakes and had doughnuts and drinks. I had a little of everything. Two breakfasts in one morning! It was hard to say goodbye (we sat there until 11) but we finally did it. Slick and HollyTrout were great, so great. They have their own band, ThruGrass! Ha! They are also setting off for the JMT in the summer and Slick will be doing the PCT next year. Slick lives in Boston and HT in Memphis.All of the good food definitey made a difference for me and gave me a ton of energy going up Tray Mtn. I powered right up that sucker! I definitely liked that mountain. The view at the top was incredible - we had our heads in the clouds! The trail itself was immaculate today - all leaves, no rocks, and lots of gradual climbs. I gave thanks about that many times.We met StealthBlew and some firefighter guy today. Firefighter Guy (I don't know his real trail name) is a section hiker wearing a kilt. Now, I've seen this on a few men already but never like this. Note: if you are sitting down near a man wearing a kilt who is standing, don't look up. At one point he was standing about five inches from my head and I was in dangerous territory. Certain and I laughed about it for the rest of the day. I even chased him up the trail trying to steal a photo. Hehe.The day was great, the trail was great and we blew through nine miles. This is our first night at a shelter (although neither of us is staying IN the shelter). There are only two other people here - Firefighter Guy and Dances with Sloths. Dances has my tent and he keeps referring to me as "the girl who has my tent". Anyway, it seems odd that there are only four of us here since it's prime thru-hiker season. It's amazing how much the weather affects my state of mind. As soon as the sun goes behind a cloud or a mountain, I feel less gleeful. It feels eerie stopping for lunch in a gap and having the wind blow by but no sun.Anyway, we are headed to Hiawassee tomorrow and I can't wait. Showers. Food. Electricity. Bed. I can't wait.My body is still holding up well. My shoulders have been achy the last two days but other than that, all is well, just tired muscles.Okay, sleepy sleepy. Hope everyone is well back home. Miss you. Thanks to all who have added notes to my guest book - it really lifts my spirits!- Sound of Certain doing hammock tricks.Post Trail Thoughts:I so wish I could eat a breakfast like that every day. One MAJOR perk of thru-hiking is being able to eat anything you want when it's available.I remember every time I stopped moving I would get cold. At one point we were sitting in a gap and I had to add a layer. Certain was always good at getting us out of the wind which I appreciated. Come to think of it, the spring had a pretty eerie atmosphere with the cool weather and the brown leaves and trees. It was nice when green things started popping up!