Date: 2014-04-14
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light rain

I lounged around in my tent before packing up. It was difficult to get things organized since the tent was partially collapsed. Not doing that again!Soon after leaving camp it was like I was hiking in a cloud. The sky was grey and I felt that rain was coming soon.The water near camp was gross (still, stagnant pool) and I was glad to fill up at a culvert half a mile away. Soon after filling up, it began to rain. Albert Mountain was ahead and I wanted to move over it quick in case thunder started. The climb up Albert was really rock and steep. I met up with the Coyote Crew (husband and wife hikers from Michigan) and we climbed it together. The Coyote Crew have big packs and move slowly but they put up big miles. The are trying to finish before their grandchild is born in four months. They are two really positive folks and I hope they make it!The top of Albert Mountain signified 100 miles completed on the A.T.! Another fantastic milestone to reach.I said adieu to the Coyote Crew and hurried down the mountain. My right knee was wonky with a pain on the top of my kneecap. I made the decision to zero once I got to Franklin to rest it.The climb between Wallace and Winding Stair gap was terrible in the rain. The rain was pounding down and the wind was blowing it sideways near the top. I was starting to get really cold so I knew I had to speed up the hiking to stay warm.Once I reached Winding Stair Gap I tried to phone for a shuttle pickup. My phone couldn't get a connection. Wind joined me at the gap and his phone also did not work. Wind and I tried hitching but there were only a few cars and no one picked us up. Wind thought they didn't want wet hikers in their nice cars! Another hiker named RocketPack came off the trail and she managed to get though to the shuttle with her phone.While we were waiting, a trail angel named Intense drove into the lot to drop off a hiker returning to the trail. The three of us were chilled to the bone so we took a ride to Franklin with Intense (I called and cancelled the shuttle). Intense is a great guy for going out of his way to help out the hikers in the area. He even gave me a short little driving tour around town!There was no room at the Budget Inn (despite having a reservation) so I checked in at the Hiker Hostel across the road. I met up with Nova and an Austrian couple I had met earlier on the trail. We all took the Ronnie Haven Hiker a Shuttle around town.Ron is quite the character! He is a former pro wrestler and his family is from Huntsville, Ontario. His bus has a video running about the Franklin attractions. As he drives, he cracks jokes and delves out historical tidbits.The shuttle stopped at an outfitter and a few familiar faces piled on including G-bird. She is on a 16 mile per day pace so I probably won't run into her again on the trail. The shuttle went to Walmart for resupply. I have so many snacks still so I didn't purchase much. In America, there are so many different types of Poptarts! Nova and I went out for dinner at a local bar & grill named Mulligans. I had a huge meal of wings, salad, baked potato and a chicken club sandwich. Karaoke started up but I was too tired to participate. Hiking makes me sleepy!