Date: 2015-04-16
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Rain, rain, rain. Gathering my gear to leave the shelter, I threw on my big ghost like poncho. A hiker named Indy mentioned I should be Cloud Walker or Ghosthiker. Twister heard him and said those are some great trail names to consider. I hiked off in the rain alone. I thought about these names as I hiked. Hmmm....clouds....nooooo. We are all tired of the rain so I didn't want to be anything associated with a cloud. Ghosthiker, though. That seems to just fit. From the very beginning when I just appeared at the campsite and Cookie wondered where I came from. Yes. I will choose Ghosthiker. As I was thinking I wish I would have talked more with Indy who gave me my name, he suddenly caught up to me. Awesome. I told him my decision and he liked it. We talked for an hour or so while hiking. I told him Dave was meeting me up at Newfound Gap and offered him a ride to a Gatlinburg. He would think about it. I had to stop and stretch, he kept on going. I like him. He is a very adventurous guy. Hiked the Camino de Santiago in Spain and does sea kayaking. Very fitting he would give me my trail name. Got to Newfound Gap and had my first trail magic! Ken and Susan from Sevierville Baptist Church had been there everyday from noon until 4 or so giving out snacks and drinks even in this cold, dreary fog and rain. I love them. Got a pic with them. Indy was there and accepted my offer when Dave shows up. Dave is officially a trail angel. He had the ice chest full of beer, hard Apple cider, sodas, and candy bars. He got out for a minute and met some of the hikers I was with and said get in. It is too cold and rainy to be standing outside. He really made an impression on Twister when Twister had said are you sure you want us in your truck? We stink and we're all wet? Dave just said get a drink and get inside. Twister had a couple of ciders but didn't take up the offer to come in to town. Coyote had a couple of beers. Oh, I forgot to mention how I met Coyote. It was just pouring when I had arrived at Double Spring Gap shelter yesterday and he was sitting in the shelter and introduced himself. I stayed there but he got up and left for the next shelter. After I changed and was making dinner he shows up about 2 hours later. I said to him what are you doing back? He was bummed. He said what do you mean? I told him I had already met him just a couple of hours ago here at this shelter. He asked me what the name of the shelter was. Oh poor guy. I felt so bad for him. He had hiked about 2.5 miles one way towards Clingmans Dome and got turned around and came back. In the rain. I still feel bad thinking about this. It's funny but not at the same time. So easy to get lost on these trails. I really like Coyote. He never got mad and said anything ugly. He just asked is there room in the shelter in a quiet vois. We made room. Other names I heard today are TicToc, she did the PCT not too long ago and is on a mission, and Handtomouth. He is a massage therapist. Spent the night Thursday night in Gatlinburg. Had dinner with Dave, Rick and Sandra at No Way Jose's. Washed clothes,had an ice cream at McDonald's, resupplied and went to bed. The next morning I was so ready to get back to the trail I had a bad attitude toward Dave. Real bad. I had to stop myself on the sidewalk and pray. I apologized to Dave and we found a great pancake house. Man standing on the side of the road with a plate that said Newfound Gap. I told dave to pull over. We gave Lightbulb (real name Dave) a ride back up. He sat in the front and talked with Dave. Up at the Gap there was a mini-cooper rally. Must have been 200 cars up there. They drove out while we we getting ready to get on the trail. It was so much fun watching them and waving. I still got back on the trail by 10:30 am.