Date: 2014-04-24
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: few clouds

   Made it 7.4 miles in 3 hours today! Saint Rick ran into me for the last mile or so to our break at Deep Gap Shelter. He's from Britain but has been living in Tasmania for the past 18 months. He thru-hike 10 years ago and is looking to do so again. He did the PCT 5 years ago as well. He's a really nice guy (sensing a trend here?) and I enjoy randomly running into him.    Saw the sunrise again partly because I had to go to the bathroom. Got on the trail at 820, made it to Deep Gap at 1120, had almost an hour break and tackled the last 3.6 by 150. I just felt really good today and was barely stopping on uphills. I was practically jogging down some declines. Carrying 1lb of food and kinda easier elevation definitely helped.    I was happy to finally get service right after the summit of Powell Mountain so I could call the Blueberry Patch Hostel. Gary came to pick me up at Dicks Creek Gap and brought me there. I thought Ben would be there because I knew we he had mentioned it before as a possibility but I was the first one there. I roamed around for a but and he actually showed up soon after. No one else has shown up so we have the place to ourselves! I took a ton of photos because it's so cool here. They have a map where you can put a pin in your hometown. The bunks have supports made out of logs/branches. There are two super cute, fuzzy soft, and friendly donkeys and four friendly and not as soft goats. A good hiker box where I got tortillas, new pb (1/3 less sodium and sugar? No care.), and an oatmeal packet. Beautiful, expansive land in the backyard. They did our laundry for us (super clean compared to Mountain Crossings!) and then Gary drove us into town after I got a shower. We spent a good 45 minutes at the Ingles shopping around. I forgot they are making us breakfast in the morning here so I got a little too much. And maybe one too many snacks too. It's okay though. I'll just eat a lot tomorrow or ASAP. Got hummus for the night and I guess the trail and it's so good. Should last a day or two without refrigeration. And nights are cold anyway.    I got to talk to Don on the phone earlier which was nice to catch up. It sucks not being able to tell him about each day though or discuss it further after he reads a journal entry or something. I'm so used to talking to him each night. It'll be nice when he finally gets to come out here and hike with me though and just hang out. I called Ela after the supermarket run and loved getting to talk to her too! They're both just really happy that I'm happy and having fun and that it's going well. She said my nephew Sean says stuff like "We have to go hike in the woods like Auntie Asia" or he asks where I am at times so she said she has to get a map for them to show my path. Unfortunately, I couldn't call my mom because Ela said she left for Italy today which I forgot. So maybe I can catch her in the morning if her phone works. It was really nice getting to hear their voices though and just checking in with people I love. I've been texting with Brad too and talking about meeting up. I'm in no rush but of course I can't wait to see everyone!    I spent too much time organizing food and other junk so time has just flown by tonight (it's already past 10) but I've really enjoyed it here. While talking to Don, I was petting the donkeys and then just laid down on the grass in the warm sun while wearing a skirt as a dress while they did my laundry. It's just wild living this life and being exposed to an innumerable amount of new things, places, and people. Whether it's hanging out with a group of ten people or just one, all of these days and nights have been so unique and special to me and I love it so much.