Date: 2010-04-30
From: At No Business Knob Shelter 

To: Erwin, Tn - Uncle Johnny's
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: clear sky

April 30, 2010 ¢ Day 25 - Friday"Don't believe everything you think.¢   ~Robert J. JacksonEverybody was up early for the short hike into Erwin. Some hikers were re-supplying, then heading out. Most of the hikers were going to stick around because of the trail magic that was reported to happen between 5 pm and dark.The trail descending into Erwin had some great overviews of the town and the rapids of the Nolichucky River. By 10:00 am I was entering Uncle Johnny¢s.Most hikers had mixed feelings about staying at Uncle Johnny¢s. It seems to be a place that you either like or hate depending on the attitude of the people who run the hostel. I decided to give it a try. It was one of the places I did visit in '04 and was on my to do list for this hike. Hikers were hanging around the front. Some were sunburned from their zero on the river's beach, others sitting at the picnic table swapping tales of the trail and others waiting for the re-supply run into town. The hostel covers a large area with small cabins, a bunkhouse and a bathhouse. Truth, Troll, Bismark, and I settled into the bunkhouse that was filling up fast. The overflow could tent on the lawn.We all made the lunch shuttle to an ACYE (all you can eat) pizza place with a salad bar. Most hikers coming off the trail will crave anything green (salad) as part of their town food. The group of hikers on this shuttle lived up to the reputation of the hiker hunger for town food. After the feast hikers went their separate ways to the various stores for re-supply. I, on the other hand, had only today to correct my problems of getting emails to Lady Kritter for postings on Trail Journals. The device I am using from Get Peek.com is not working properly. I have not received a text or email from anyone since April 16. I don't even know if the emails I am sending out are getting to their destination. It is so frustrating. On top of that I find out AT&T doesn't work well in the mountains unless near an interstate. I HATE THE ELECTRONIC WORLD. If you have sent me texts and/or emails I apologize for not responding but the technical difficulty is really beyond my control. Finally, after an hour of phone calls and rebooting the device I am back in business, almost. I still have issues that need to be worked out.Spent the late afternoon with other hikers on the beach of the fast moving river skipping stones, watching young male hikers swim the rapids and challenge each other on who could make it to a boulder protruding out of the water and conquer it like "King of the Hill".Went to the trail magic put on by a local church. Hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, salads and assorted sweets lined the tables. This group of trail angels out did themselves and the hikers expressed their appreciation. Full of good food we waddled back to the hostel for the evening food run. The driver of the food run was really agitated that he had to stop his beer drinking to drive the shuttle. He became arrogant and really annoying. I came to the conclusion that I am glad I came to Uncle Johnny¢s, but would not go back again. The bunk house was filthy, even by hikers standards and the people associated with the hostel not the most hospitable.Truth, Limestone, Troll, Bismark and I decided to take advantage of the last good weather day and slack pack south 20 miles from Iron Mountain Gap back to Erwin.If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe