Date: 2014-04-13
From: Stan Murray Shelter

To: Roan Mountain, TN
Miles today: 10.6

Day 32- April 13, Stan Murray Shelter to Mountain Harbour Hostel, 10.6 milesToday marks our one month anniversary on the trail and we are pleased with our progress! We had another beautiful, sunny day in which to walk which means another day of dry feet!So we had some interesting things happen today. First, we were coming down off of Hump Bald, through a particularly rocky section when I planted my hiking stick and it stuck between two rocks. I leaned forward a bit and the stick snapped right in two!!! Good thing I was not dependent on it for balance at that particular moment! Jim was very willing to give up one of his sticks because he knows I rely on my sticks more often than he does. Later, the trail passed through a beautiful high meadow called Doll Flats where a couple of hikers had dropped their packs and were walking around in the tall grass. The young man approached us and asked if we would take their picture. I asked if this was a special place to them and he said that his girlfriend had just accepted his marriage proposal!!! She was thrilled and was so happy to show us her beautiful ring! Jim gladly took their photo and we wished them the best. Shortly after Doll Flats we came to a sign that said we were leaving North Carolina! Two states completed! We got off the trail at a road crossing which would take us to the town of Roan Mountain. There is a hostel/ B&B about .3 of a mile from the trail, where we had a reservation. After settling in our semi-private room on the top floor of a barn we drank a cold soda and then decided to try to hitch a ride into town a couple of miles away. We walked up the driveway to the road and I stuck out my thumb. About 12 cars passed us when we finally got lucky! And here's how this ride became trail magic. The woman driving, Becky, is the wife of thru-hiker Gray Ghost, and she was driving in the other direction. She saw us, could tell we were hikers (!), turned around figuring we just wanted a ride into town. When we told her we wanted to go to the little grocery store she told us she had originally been planning to go to the big grocery store in the next town over and did we want to do that with her?! Well, we sure did! So we enjoyed our 20 minute drive (each way) in her big, air-conditioned car and getting to know her. She and her husband have a second home in the area and since he is now getting up to this area she is picking him up and bringing him home for a day or two. We got our shopping done and picked up sandwiches for lunch. I also got a cheapo pair of sunglasses. Becky was a delightful, generous lady and we appreciate her willingness to pick up a couple of hikers! Today's trail took us over the Highlands of Roan, a beautiful area with lots of balds, which on this sunny morning provided spectacular views. We were able to look down on many small hamlets tucked into small valleys and admire some large homes perched on the mountainside. In the last few days when we've had views down on the countryside we've see what we thought were Christmas tree farms. Today Becky told us that this is indeed one of the biggest areas in the country for growing Christmas trees! We are also enjoying seeing the mountain slopes greening up, especially as we get to some of the lower elevations. Instead of mountain slopes being covered with brown leaves, new green foliage is pushing its way up and taking over! This hostel/B&B is located on a beautiful piece of rolling land with a creek running through it. There is a field that had 4 horses in it when we arrived. The B&B guests stay in the main house and the hostel guests are on the second floor of the barn. There are bunkhouse-style accommodations for 4 or 6 people and then a semi-private room with a king-sized bed, which is where we are staying. There are 2 bathrooms with showers and a main sitting area with tables and chairs, a stove, refrigerator, microwave and sink. There are also a large assortment of snacks available for sale, on the honor system! Tonight we will catch their 5 PM shuttle into town for dinner. Rain with possible thunderstorms is moving in later tomorrow. There is another hostel about 13 miles from here so we've made a reservation there for tomorrow night. All is well.