Date: 2016-03-17
From: Mollies Ridge

To: Icewater Springs Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 20It's all down hill from here.I woke up early and had my eyes set on Clingman's Dome, the tallest point on the AT at 6,643 ft. We were very fortunate to have perfect weather and amazing views from the observation tower, and I swear I could almost see forever. Everyone took the customary pictures and we headed north. I knew from my previous hiking trip in 2011, we were approaching Davenport Gap, which is an opportunity to hitch a ride into Gatlinburg, Tn and I was intending on doing so. This town is a bizarre mix of Disneyland and Las Vegas, so I knew I could get something good to eat there. I was starting to taste the flavors of town when I arrived at the gap, which is basically a parking lot full of tourists taking selfies at the border sign between NC/TN, and was immediately greeted with a ham sandwich. Rule number 17 states that after you hike several miles on the AT in a day and are presented with a Ham Sandwich, eat it; so I did, and it was the best one I've had in my entire life. Trail Magic is the best kind of magic, and I was really appreciative of the graciousness of our magicians. Quick ans I quickly caught a ride into town and got dropped off at the outfitters. We were able to stash out packs inside which enabled us to blend in more easily with the tourists allowing us to avoid the hundreds of questions and picture requests that were sure to follow. We made a pit stop at Walgreen's and headed over to Mc'Donalds... earlier in the day"Large" made a request if we stopped into town to bring back "a sack of double Mac's" and we were honored to be able to fulfill his request, and you shoulda seen the look at the cashier's face when I ordered 20 double cheeseburgers,naturally without onions of course.We had to get cleaver to find a way to put 20 burgers in our packs, and made our way back to the trail. We put our thumbs up in the air to signal that we were ready to go from from walkers into passengers. Several cars declined to participate and finally one drove by with a dog in the backseat, and I said to Quick that I would been willing to sit next to that dog. A few moments later I hear a lady shouting in our direction, waving, trying to get our attention. It was the driver of the car with the dog...we walk over to her parked car and I realize the car is tiny, and already had two humans and 2 dogs in it...and now Quick and I were going to have to figure out a way to squeeze into the back seat with a large dog, and our packs...the look the dog gave me, when he realized what was happening will live with me forever. The dog instinctively put his head outside of the window to buy some extra room and Quick and I did our best to turn into the clowns at the circus trying to fit into a Yugo. That was the longest 15 mile car ride I have ever taken. Our new friends who gave us the ride were really cool and I enjoyed talking to them on the way back. We posed for a picture with them and headed for the shelter to deliver our surprise burgers.We arrived just in time for dinner and everyone was appreciative of their treat. It really does feel good to practice magic. As the sun was setting, a tourist/ international exchange grad student walks into camp and asks if there was food available. I was kinda taken back by his late arrival, and quickly was concerned that his lack of provisions could lead to trouble and that means paperwork and I know aint nobody got time for that. I gave him some food and advised him that he should make his way back to the parking lot rather fast as it was going to get dark soon.