Date: 2004-03-26
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Wayah Gap
Miles today: 9.7

I may have mentioned yesterday that no way was I going in to town today, so what did I do? Go in to Franklin!This was really an accident. I had wanted to go to a campground with provisions, Rainbow Springs, but missed the turning. When I came out on the road for Franklin I met Woods a thru-hiker from last year who was out doing trail magic. I scored an apple pie and a ride into town. He was really friendly and was helpful about zero days, mileage and my other concerns. By the way, John and dog, Lucy, also got a ride. The same duo I rode out of Hiawasse with. I had never realised it was easier to blag rides with a dog.Earlier that morning I met Louis, who I set out with from Amicalola, hiking with Apple Pie, from Holland. Good to see him going great guns as he's very fit, but been hit by injuries.In town it took me a while to find a phone that would transmit these messages. I went to Inlges for more breakfast stuff and meths, then on to the library. So far, being my own transcriber is working, even though I have my little trail fairies in England standing by if I can't get to a PC.I learned from her journal that Peak a Boo has been forced off the trail with her injured foot, but hopes to be back this season. I know how much the AT means to her, so it's a real shame. Get well soon, Peak A Boo!I wandered back towards the highway with Tom from Israel. He went to Burger King and I went to Subway. I was craving some fresh green stuff, but realised it wasn't really calorific enough, so went to Burger King for dessert.I walked disconsolately back to Old US 64, a big road. I wasn't sure of the best place to hitch a ride being unsure whether cars were able to pull over or not on that class of highway. As I was wondering, the second piece of trail magic of the day occurred when an SUV emerged from a side road and beckoned me over. The driver was a NC ATC member and asked if I needed to get back to the trail. He was an older man but full of innovative ideas about light weight hiking and designs for new, heated shelters made from septic tank material. He dropped me right where I needed to be, then turned around and headed back towards town. I had assumed it was on his way.People associated with the trail community, whether hikers or not, are so kind. I realise that these journals often make the logistics of things like getting to town seem straightforward. They are not, Franklin is an 18 mile round trip from the trail, it could be really hard to get in and out in a day but, fortunately, in the immortal words of Blanche Dubois, we hikers can always rely on the kindness of strangers. And then there are all the folks who pop up on road crossings pressing free hot dogs and sodas into your hands. Is trail magic? Of course it is. Would it happen in England? Not likely.It was about 5.00 when I rejoined the AT. I hiked on for another couple of hours, the latest I've been out and was pleased to make almost 10 miles. I decided to push on past Siler Bald shelter and to camp alone tonight for the first time. I almost set up on top of the bald itself, it would have been beautiful to watch the sun set behind the line of the opposing mountains. But I emerged on a tree lined ridge from which the fading light was filtered through the leafless branches and that was good too. In some ways this spot isn't great as it's accessible by road and that's not the best from personal safet considerations. It's also a picnic area which means food, which means bears. Could I locate my bear rope? Nope. I decided to bag up everything vaguely smelly (except myself) and hang it from the rafters in the privy. Sweet dreams.