Date: 2016-04-05
From: Muskrat Creek

To: Deep Gap, NC
Miles today: 4.0

I was eager to get up and get going this morning knowing that I only had 4 miles to hike, most of it down hill into the Deep Gap area where there is a service road with parking. I had made arrangements with a trail Angel to pick me up there and shuttle me into Franklin, where I was to pick up my resupply boxes. My intent had been to stay at the Budget Inn in Franklin a poor relation to the Budget Inn Hiawassee. Since my experience there was so miserable I had booked myself a room at the Comfort Inn instead, and was looking forward to a night in luxury! Instead wonderful Trail Angels by the name of Chris and Diane changed my plans for the better.I was hiking downhill and suddenly came across an interesting situation. A very large tree had fallen across the trail bringing down a smaller narrow tree with it. I got up close and saw that there was some space underneath to crawl under it if one was small and without a giant backpack on one's back. or I could try and climb over this enormous double trunk tree. In sizing up the situation I decided that the tree was actually like two large horses. I could throw one leg over,straddle it, then slide off, as there was enough room in between the fork of it to put a leg down then slide the other leg over, standing in between, then repeat the process over the next trunk. I was hoping as I did this maneuver that the weight of my pack would not pull me over backwards and down the steep side of the mountain. Thankfully my years of training with Carol Kozlowski riding horses paid off and I got across both tree safely and was on to the third challenge. The narrow tree was higher off the ground, so no climbing over it. Not enough room to kneel down and crawl either. After giving it a good look over I realized I could grab it with both arms and swing myself underneath it like a monkey, hoping that there was enough room for my body and my pack between the tree and the ground or I would surely get stuck. Wrapping both arms around the tree I swung mightily, clearing it with an inch to spare. Standing up I dusted myself off, grabbed my hiking poles and said "nothing can stop me from my zero day off!". I could tell I was getting close to my destination as the trail leveled out and became easier walking. I looked up and suddenly noticed a day hiker approaching. I stopped to chat and discovered it was no ordinary day hiker but my trail angel Chris. He had gotten there early and had walked up to meet me. Also down at his truck he had set up a wonderful Trail magic for hikers passing through. He urged me to hurry on down, have a seat in the chair and indulge in hiker treats. He was going to continue a bit further up the trail to see how things were looking and would return shortly. I did as I was told and gratefully sank into a real chair! I kicked off my boots, and heaved a sigh of relief knowing that good things were in store. Mountain Mike and Many Waters were also sitting there enjoying Chris's Trail Magic. He had a cooler of Gatorade, lemonade and water and many snacks and cookies and graham crackers. Many Waters was considering going into Franklin as well, but decided to move on down the trail. Mountain Mike was hoping to get a ride with Chris into Franklin as he needed to do some Banking and resupply. When Chris returned, he was happy to give him a ride and we packed up all the trail magic supplies, squeezed into the truck and headed for Franklin. After dropping Mountain Mike off, Chris took me out to lunch at the Frogtown Market. Oh, that turkey reuben disappeared rapidly. So tasty. We chatted while we ate and got acquainted. Then it was off to pick up my resupply boxes at the Budget Inn. Before I knew it, we were pulling up to Chris and Diane's beautiful home in Franklin. I was shown to the guest suite downstairs and exploded my pack, piling up laundry to do and sorting through my food bag. There were chores to be done but first off was a nice long hot shower! Chris assured me they had a 90 gallon hot water tank and I was to use as much of it as I needed, and I needed a lot! Taking a shower after so many days without one is exhausting work. The only thing I had energy left to do was hobble upstairs and make a cup of tea. I join Chris out on their beautiful screen porch which overlooks part of the golf course in the mountains in the distance. Soon Diane came home from her errands and we discovered we had much in common. We both grew up in the Buffalo/Grand Island area, their daughter's name is Danielle and she is 29 and my son's name is Daniel and he is 29. They also have a son Cameron who is 27, lives nearby and is a pharmacy technician. It was fun to discover such similarities over dinner in a Mexican restaurant. When we got back to the house I bid them goodnight as I could hardly keep my eyes open. I took another nice hot shower, just because I could, and crawled into a real bed. Ahhh, it is so wonderful to be clean and warm and inside. Thank you my wonderful Trail Angels!