Date: 2003-08-16
From: VanDeventer Shelter

To: Hgwy #91, Shady Valley, Tn.
Miles today: 11.0

Saturday August 16 I am on the trail by 7:30. Of course the ground is very damp from the rain and I wear long pants because the trail is quite overgrown ahead. It soon starts to rain again and a man and woman pass me going the opposite direction. I wonder if I look as water logged as they do. She is wearing an above the knee skirt. I suppose that works as hiking gear. I reach Iron Mt Shelter at 10:30AM. I can¢t quite seem to get my energy going even tho I have made 7 miles in 3 hours. Soon I pass 5 more hikers, a couple of dads and sons I assume. Well it¢s the weekend. After 11 miles I reach Highway #91. It¢s only 3 more miles to Double Springs Mt. shelter or 11 more to the next one. But my legs feel like anvils and I am running on empty as I take a seat in a clear spot by the road. I haven¢t ever felt this low on energy while hiking. Yesterday Chris and Jim told me they had spent a night in Shady Valley, TN and extolled its virtues as a super friendly place to stay. So, due either to their testimony or my tiredness, after 3-4 vehicles drive by I stick out my thumb. The first truck stops immediately. Looks like Chris and Jim were right. The local gentleman drives me first to the Shady Valley Inn but there¢s no one there so he takes me about 12 mile back up the road to the Cranberry Caf©. I am pretty soaked from walking thru the overgrown trail so for about a half hour, I just sit out front on a chair in the sun and try to dry out. Shady Valley is not much more than an intersection. Everyone coming and going into the Caf© says hi even tho they give me a little wondrous look. I finally go in. There¢s 10-12 people eating and I join them by having a hamburger, fries and coffee. The waitress is overweight and weathered but has that like-I¢ve-known-you forever friendliness. I tell her I¢m trying to get a room at the Inn but no one is there. She says that happens often and she ¢don¢t know what¢s goin on thar¢. Later she returns to the table and says she is trying to call a friend of hers who will rent me a room. I feign interest. I¢m enjoying the restfulness and coffee of the place so I linger. Plus I have nowhere to go. The waitress returns. She can¢t reach her friend. But, says she and the other waitress have been talking and since I look harmless (she actually says ¢ya ain¢t no axe murderer are ya?¢) that maybe she can put me up at her place. My hiking energy level returns quickly as images of her cellulite covered body holding me down while straddling me in a disheveled old trailer flashes thru my head. I thank her but say that I¢ll try the Inn again. Her natural helpfulness doesn¢t stop and she says she¢ll give me a ride. Okaaay. Her small Jeep SUV hasn¢t been near a trash can or felt a vacuum cleaner for quite a while. The image of her single wide reappears in my head. We drive the short distance to the Inn and no one is there. I panic then quickly say ¢You know if I hike a few miles today, tomorrow¢s hike to Damascus will be nice and short¢. But as we start to leave a car pulls up and 2 ladies and a little boy get out. Hallalujah and thank you Jesus, one of them is the manager. It¢s pricey ($60) for a hiker but I take it. I thank the waitress profusely as she heads for her home on wheels. I sleep a relieved slumber.SUMMARY AUGUST 16, VANDEVENTER SHELTER TO HIGHWAY #91 TO SHADY VALLEY, TN, 11.1 MILES, CUMULATIVE 173 MILES.