Date: 2015-04-05
From: Cheese Factory Site

To: Holiday Inn Express - Hiawassee
Miles today: 13.0

Cold start today. I heard something about a frost advisory in the valley so you can guess how cold it was at 3638 feet. Its the first time I've really utilized my 20 degree sleeping bag and I slept like a dream. Getting out of the bag was another story but we were up and gone by 7:45.Cambo and I headed up Tray Mountain straight out of camp and knocked out the 1.5 mile climb to 4430' pretty quickly.We spent the next couple of hours descending to the next gap, climbing to the next ridge and walking the ridgeline. Around 10:45 we began descending to Addis Gap and started to see signs on the trail like you see Rock City or Pedro's billboards on the interstate. Something about Wisconsin cheese, cold beer, and bacon, bacon, bacon. The half mile trip off the trail was a no brainer.We show up and these amazing people had been posted up in that gap for the entire weekend. Before I knew it I had blueberry pancakes, bacon, orange slices, and a large glass of orange juice in my hand. To say I overate would be an understatement. They had a new entree every hour. I had eggs, cheese eggs, chili eggs, a cheese ball, and more bacon after my three panacakes. There was even a keg of beer in the creek and a bacon bell.There aren't enough thank yous in the world for what these folks were doing but I made a valiant effort at it. When I left they asked me to stay as a ham was coming off the fire. It took all I had to get back to the trail. So I gobbled up some nutter butters grabbed some fruit for the road, hugged their necks and said goodbye.You learn out here that the little things matter so much. Having people you just met treat you like that then look you in the eye when youre leaving to say they're rooting for you and they'll be thinking about you means so much. It's the same way with Trail Journal and Facebook comments. It may not seem like a big deal to you guys but it means the world to everyone out here. I try to post what I'm doing and all of the good times and people but in between that is a lot of work. I enjoy climbing mountains but turning my phone on and seeing the support is such a motivator. Thanks everyone. You're all champs.So, upon leaving the gap the group (Cambo, me, Airlock, Starcrunch) agreed to meet at a campsite right after the shelter. I was in the back of the group since I stopped to call the Wife at the top of Kelly Knob so when I got to the shelter I didn't bother to stop. Eventually I made it to a blue blaze trail that said 'Vista' so I decided to take the short walk to the view and snap a photo. I got back on the trail and started walking down the mountain and upon reaching a water source I figured I overshot the site. I opened up the guide and the Vista was actually where we were supposed to go. Nobody was there when I had passed and I wasn't turning around to climb the mountain.Around 5:30 I reached Dick's Creek Gap which was the goal for tomorrow and just decided to head into Hiawassee a day early. The shuttles had come and gone for the day so I stuck my thumb out and hoped for the best. About 10 minutes later a really good guy named Trout picked me up and we talked about kayaking, life, college, and thru hiking for the ride in. Trout, if you're reading this, thanks. It was great to meet you today.I got to the Holiday Inn Express, checked in, and ran straight into Mutter. And guess who's with Mutter? The famous Spot of Tea. The two of us along with Advil and Kansas headed over for dinner and some great conversation. They all had gotten a ride in from Unicoi Gap (I passed through there yesterday morning). It was great. After my zero tomorrow they'll be about a day behind. Hopefully we'll cross paths in Franklin.Tonight the Wife and I had a long Skype session which was great. Hopefully we'll see each other around the Smokies. That's it. Planned to be here tomorrow so I'm just going to zero and hit the trail again Tuesday. Supposed to rain buckets anyway so it's good timing. Oh, and I got ahold of Cambo. He's at Top of Georgia Hostel near the gap and should be staying here with me tommorow. Now I just need to find out what happened to Star Crunch and Airlock.