Date: 2017-05-23
From: Spivey Gap, US 19 W

To: Indian Grave Gap, TN 395
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: light rain

Yesterday we lucked out and didn't get all the rain that was predicted.  Today our luck ran out.  I got up at 5:30 to get an early start.  It rained overnight but only lightly, so my tent was only wet on the outside.  I was able to pack it up so that the inside  layer of mesh and floor remained separated from the outside and stayed dry.  It wasn't raining when I left at 6:40, but it started drizzling shortly into the hike.  All morning it stayed warm and only rained lightly.  It was a pleasant hike through spring forest and lots of rhododendron thickets and mountain laurel in bloom (see photo).  I got a boost from my experimental new caffeine drink, Starbucks canned double shot espresso.  After a while Sue and Maggie, members of the 2015 Expedition who are visiting for the week, caught up with me.  I hiked with them until we reached the first shelter 5 miles in.  We stopped there and had substantial snacks/lunch.  While we were there Lizzie caught up.  After we ate, the four of us headed out, but I soon fell behind.  Lizzie is still staying with her friend in Asheville and was hiking fast.  My left knee was hurting, so I didn't try to keep up.  About 12 miles in, I reached Uncle Johnny's hostel.  This is a funky but nice old place right on the trail near the Nolichucky River.  There are bunk rooms, some microwaveable food, a good selection of camping gear, wool socks, resupply items, all (except the bunks) in a space about 15 feet square.  Sue, Maggie, Lizzie, and Randy were sitting in a sheltered place outside eating snacks.  I went in and got a Klondike bar and some coffee.  About 12:30 the rain increased to a steady downpour.  I had good cell phone service, so I called my sister Diane.  I waited a while to see if the rain would slow down, but it didn't. At 1:20 I headed out, just as Arlene and Bill were arriving.  Spurred on by my coffee I set off into the downpour.  The temperature was in the 60s, so it wasn't cold as long as I kept moving.  But I couldn't stop for any breaks.  I got to our stopping point, Indian Grave Gap shortly after 6 PM.  By then there was a torrential downpour.  Rennie had his tent set up, but there was no sign of anyone else.  Rennie said that Sue and Maggie complained of being cold, so Warren took them to town.  As it turned out, Warren took them back to the Folk School to stay.  They'll be hiking south for the rest of the week and leaving their cars at the north end of the hike.Today was the last day of Randy's visit and his final day on the AT.  He's been hiking southbound on our hikes for the past two weeks to complete his section hike of the AT.  Today was his last section.  It seems anticlimactic to end hiking alone in the rain.  To celebrate he got a hotel room in town.  His plan was to run a big hot bath, perhaps with bubbles, and drink a beer while soaking away the grime.  He's bringing us out breakfast sandwiches and coffee in the morning before he heads home to Illinois.  I had intended to start introducing the members of the expedition, but by the time I start writing I'm sometimes too tired.  Maybe tomorrow, but don't hold your breath. Our hike tomorrow is 21.5 miles, and it's supposed to continue to rain.  So, a slogging through the mud day.  Arlene, Bill, and I moved all the bins out of the van and are sleeping inside.