Date: 2016-05-16
From: Erwin, TN

To: Unnamed Campsite MM 354.8
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: fog

Day 30, Erwin, Tennessee to Unnamed Camp Site 354.8In the morning, my head felt like someone had taken a little hammer and was tapping the front of my head. I felt awful!! After swearing off alcohol yet again, I got on the van to breakfast and the post office to mail my old clothes and trekking poles back home. The post office was most efficient and I made my way to the Huddle House for breakfast. Waffle House is a little more upscale than a Huddle House. I sat with Haiku who started on April 1st. He was a lit major and we talked about that and his 18 zeroes so far on the trail. He told me he had to start hiking or he would run out of money soon. I had eggs, sausage, blueberry pancakes, and Haiku's bacon. He didn't like it and I was thrilled to have it. I felt much better after breakfast.I returned to find most of the crew back in bed calling friends and chatting. I told them that we needed to turn and burn to get some hiking in. They were utterly confused by this pilot talk and I had to explain the term. Then we got going. I picked up my pack and it felt like it weighed a ton. Uncle Johnny happened to have a pack scale and it weighed in at 36 pounds. I was aghast! That is more than my first day and meant I had over 20 pounds of consumables in my pack. I don't even have a stove for goodness sake! I asked how this could happen, but I was reminded that I knew darn well how it happened. It was the margaritas! Oh well. At least I bought stuff I like to eat. We hit the trail around noon and as usual, the trail always goes up after town. We all still remembered how to hike and actually made good time. We were told by South Bound Hikers that there was Trail Magic ahead in 4 miles and the guy was only staying until 5 pm. We all dreamed about fruit and whatever drinks might be available and picked up the pace. Sadly, we arrived at the designated spot at 3:45 and the gentleman had left. Bummer. We were all sad, but trail magic is a gift to begin with. We hiked on and came to the Beautiful Spot which is a very pretty, grassy bald. Up ahead and to the side of the trail a sun tent was erected. We veered off the trail and made straight for it. When we arrived, we found great trail magic offered by two Triple Crowners. With PeaceFoot, 3 of the 250 people ever to hike all three long trails, the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail were in one spot. They had some great stories. I was challenged to see if I could fit over 20 cheese balls in my mouth at one time. I doubled down, but lost the shake out. I succeeded in getting 21 in, but I looked like a deranged chipmunk. I ate a banana and had an ice cold Coke. It all tasted great! We hiked on and came to a great campsite a couple miles up the way. Sam built a fire and we had hot dogs, chips, and a bunch of Philip's candy for dessert. They were some of the tastier hot dogs I have had! It began to get dark and we all turned in for the night. So, at the end of the day, I have hiked 354 AT miles and 8 more on the approach trail my first month on the trail. That averages out to roughly 12 miles a day with 3 zeroes. The ankle sprain certainly slowed me down, but had I not had it, I would not have met the fine folks I am currently hiking with. I am very thankful for my first month on the trail.