Date: 2017-05-28
From: Erwin, TN - Uncle Johnnys

To: Indian Grave Gap
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: light rain

1.  Date: Skysday, Forelithe 08 (5-28)2.  Day 333.  Morning temp: 604.  Weather: overcast, calm5.  Time start: 08126.  Time stop and miles: 1312/8.47.  End point: Indian Grave Gap8.  Events: LoGear gets off trailLog:We were up around 0630 after a restful sleep out of the rain.  We packed up, paid our bill and headed out.The trail was pretty nice heading out of Erwin. It rose above the river gradually, with only a few steep climbs.As we were walking along the river, a guy caught up to us and asked if we would give a guy he was hiking with some food as he thrust a couple of cinnamon pinwheels and a granola bar in my hand. He said the guy hadn't eaten in two days and he had hiked on into the night without him. He showed me a photo of him.  I said sure.We stopped for a break at the first shelter. Sprout was there doodling in the register. Her hiking partner was sick, so she said they were probably zeroing there for the day. We asked if she had seen the guy and she said she thinks he stayed at the shelter last night.LoGear had been dragging all morning. I could tell she was having a hard time. I asked if she wanted to go home and she said yes.  She is just missing her girls too much and doesn't like being this seperated and out of touch with them. It was weighing her down and affecting her hike.  It was time for her part in this Quest, this adventure, to change.I went into protect my baby mode and started figuring out how I could get her to a bus station and get her home.  I figured we could use the shuttle services of one of two hostels that we would be passing in a day or two.We stopped for lunch halfway up the mountain and I took my phone out of airplane mode to check for signal and I amazingly had some.  I sent a quick text to Miss Janet, the best Trail Angel I know, who happens to live in Erwin.  She responded back in a few minutes that she would be at the gap in an hour or so. We walked the 1.4 miles down to the gap. On the way I was able to book a space on a Greyhound leaving Johnson City tomorrow. Shortly after we got to the gap, Miss J pulled up with a couple of hikers that were heading out from there. They kindly took the food for the hungry hiker to attempt that side-quest for us.We headed north first and picked up three more hikers and then headed to Johnson City where we hit an AYCE Chinese place that had us pigging out before checking into an Econolodge next door.  Miss J and the hikers headed to Damascus where they would continue their hike.  We checked in and I had my third shower in three days. LoGear got her pack ready for a bus ride and I started to plan my next few days of hiking.Miss Janet will be coming to pick me up in the morning and take me back to the Gap and LoGear will now be home base.  Her 350 miles of experience will help a lot in knowing what I am going through and what I need.It has been very special having my Bride with me for the beginning of this Quest. Her Adventure was to help me get this far. Now, her supporting me from home base puts my worries at ease as she has had plenty of experience doing that when I was deployed in the Coast Guard and it only strenthens my resolve to continue this Quest.The Adventure continues...Fauna: Red Efts, Barred OwlVOD: Miss Janets SUVSound: Train whistles in the early morningHigh: The trail providingLow: Seeing LoGear so downHope: That LoGear gets home safe and I get back to the trail quickly