Date: 2009-04-19
From: Erwin

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Uncle Johnny's was never a place I felt drawn to- either before or during the trip. His workers were quite the opposite types from those at Elmer's. I checked my e-mail one last time before I left, and the long-haired, older biker type with missing teeth said to me, "I can get you stoned before you head back to the trail if you want." I smiled, and said I was fine... Bound and I left together just after 9, and took it slow because we both kept wanting to take pictures. A train pulled up on the tracks we had to cross to get to the trailhead and stopped. What were we supposed to do? It was too long to go around... We had no idea why it had stopped and how long it would be. So Bound took off her pack and threw her poles under the train. Unfortunately, they didn't make it across the tracks... She went first, and then I threw my pack down and went under the car as fast as I could. There was a moment of terror, but everything turned out okay! My platypus did fall out and got covered in tar, but other than that, we were unscathed.   It was nice hiking with Bound because she had hiked from VA to Maine last year and knew many of the people whose journals I had been following. It was a great connection. The day quickly turned foggy and gray and rainy, but Bound lifted my spirits by sharing her snacks with me. "Do you want a piece of brownie? You know you do!" I got a piece of her Enteman's brownie with sprinkles, a piece of her maple poptarts (I had not tasted either in so long, and thought "maybe I should buy some of these when I get home!.... actually maybe, not...". Later, I got a couple of her Scooby Doo gummy candies which were bursting with radiant flavor! It seemed like we had only been hiking for a couple of hours, when we saw St. Patty headed toward us! Wow! He was covering ground fast! He told Bound that she would be getting trail magic ahead, but sorry, Wendy, there is nothing for you! Last night at dinner, an arrangement was made for St. Patty and PapaDoc (who were slackpacking that day) to bring a few northbounders a special treat: a breakfast biscuit! The rain picked up and we parted ways. A little later on, we saw a man in a blue rain jacket with a bright smile and a happy wave coming toward us. "I have something for you!" he said to Bound. He apologized to me... He opened his pack, and then his cozy, and then pulled out a wrapped package. Bound opened it up and pulled me off a piece. It was the most delicious thing I have tasted! A biscuit with eggs... from Hardy's ("oh, man, I've got to go there later!" I thought.) It was the best treat we could have received!   We were to come to Beauty Spot, where Bound had memories from 2007, but this time, we were not treated to any views. We traversed the bald in the fog, and I took a couple of pictures of Bound, who enjoys herself in any type of weather. I had been suffering from the pain of my pinched nerve in my hip, and was frustrated to have to keep stopping to take off and put back on my pack. At 3pm, I was feeling so weak and hungry, that I had to stop to eat some real lunch, standing up in the rain. I told Bound to go on so she didn't get cold. We had about 3 miles to reach the shelter. The sustenance made me feel a bit better, and I moved more quickly and easily afterwards. The next section of the trail (on Unaka Mountain) was magical. I skirted through the tall pine trees in the fog like Gretal, trying to escape the witch. The area was rich for fantasies. Down the hill I went, until finally, I could see the shelter! Who would be there waiting?   Bound was standing outside, Hellbender waved to me from his sleeping bag, and two other hikers were trying to get warm and cook dinner. Three section hikers had spread out their gear, and all I wanted was some space to set down my pack and change my clothes so I could get warm. This was harder than it should have been! No one moved, or welcomed us... I wished Papa Doc and St. Patty were there because I know they would have welcomed us and made some room.. Bound asked in her cheery voice if there was room for us, and one of the section hikers said "Sure!". Once changed into dry clothes, and after a warm meal in our bellies, everything was much better... We managed all 8 of us into the 6 person shelter, and Bound lent me her "Outside" magazine that she had received in a maildrop to enjoy. Hellbender told us that he would be writing a children's book after the trail, entitled "Once Upon A Privy" and asked us if we had any stories to contribute. I told them I did, so everyone gathered around to listen... and then we went to bed!