Date: 2007-03-22
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Hiawasee
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: overcast clouds

March 22, Hiawasee HeavenI think I was just about as excited for today as I was to start hiking the AT. Well...that's a little bit of a stretch but, darn, was I excited to get to Hiawassee!I woke up at 7:30 a.m. and it was 49 degrees in my tent. We only had 3.5 miles to go and Certain and I were both roarin' to hit the trail, get into town and get clean and resupplied. So, for the first time, we got ready and were on the trail in less than two hours! We blew through those miles as if we had wheels on our feet and feathers in our packs. Along the trail, we saw the good old boy scout troop and CrazyHorse. We also ran into Frank from the Cloud 9 hostel. He offered to give us a ride to town if we would just swing by the hostel. We did and it looked nice but we were solid in our decision to stay in town at the Holiday Inn Express. They worked us hard to try and change our reservations but our minds were made up. Finally, we were driven to our hotel. I took a shower that made the walls sweat and the linens cry, for the first time since I started hiking, I felt really clean. After that, Michele and I and our heaping trash compactor bag full of clothes headed to Monte Alban, the local Mexican restaurant. We pigged out on fajitas, chips and salsa, and guacamole. It was pretty delicious. After that, we headed to the laundromat and got our laundry out of the way. There, we ran into Sailor - reunion! Fun!I was completely exhausted today. I can't imagine what it would have been like to hike all day. So, when we got back to our room, I took a quick half-hour nap. I got up, made some calls, checked some emails and cleaned up the contents of my pack. I am so pleased to be in a hotel rather than a hostel tonight. We talked about it for a while and Michele and I both think that, at this time, it's less exhausting to be at a hotel with a big bed, showers that can last all day, and peace and quiet. I'll save the hostels for when I have more energy to sleep in the bunks, wait for shuttles to town, shower in 15 minutes, etc. I am very grateful to be here - and we are right in the middle of town here too. The best part? This hotel lets you rent bikes! Even better? You get a helmet too! So, around 8:45 p.m., Michele and I rented some bikes and pedaled our way to Ingles, the local grocer. I felt like I was straight out of "Dumb and Dumber". And we took pictures too We got a few honks on the way there.We spent about one and a half hours at the store looking for the perfect resupply options. I must say, it was totally funny shopping with Michele. I've never seen anyone comparison shop like that - I think she looked at cheese for eight whole minutes. It was hilarious. So...we got everything (including the much talked about and desired Cheetos, ice cream, Idahoan potatoes and Gushers!) and strapped the grocery bags onto our bikes (and in the front baskets) and the helmets onto our heads and started our way back to the hotel. It was quite a ride. I won't try to hide it - there's a hill coming up to the Holiday Inn and we both had to stop and walk our bikes up it! Ha! What a hoot! We can climb six mountains in a day but don't ask us to ride a bike over a 10 degree incline!Back in our hotel room, I feasted on Gouda, tomatoes, Cheetos, grapes, a banana, and butter pecan ice cream. Mmm...Now, I am off to bed. All of me is tired. I'm pretty sure I have arthritis in my shoulders - self-diagnosed, yes, but I'm pretty sure. Bummer sleeping in the damp cold. Tonight will do me well!- Sound of "Everybody Loves Raymond" on the hotel TeeVee, the air cranking and my feet moving around my big, comfy double bed. Post Trail Thoughts:For some reason, in the beginning, I was always totally wiped out when we finally got to a town. I'm not sure why it worked out that way but I always felt like I could pass out at any given moment! It was actually a tough hurdle to overcome since we always had lots of town chores to do.