Date: 2003-03-23
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Franklin NC
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 10 Weather: Sunny...a little hazy 60's...great hiking weather. I'd say almost perfect. I'm loving it!Didn¢t sleep much at all last night. Just lay there, not so restless, just thinking about everything. The thing is, I¢m not at all tired during the day¢¦don¢t feel tired and don¢t yawn. Mag says it will all come together in time.Started dressing and breaking camp early, about 6 a.m. Gotta get a jump on Goldberry who has been sleeping snug in the shelter. Mule, Driver and I eat breakfast (I had oatmeal and hot chocolate) and move out well before 8 a.m. Goldberry is up and I say good bye and ha! ha!   A few miles down the trail I stop, drop my pack to ¢make some adjustments¢ if you know what I mean. I¢m out of sight, but you can see my pack   I¢m back on the Trail shortly and moving at a good clip. Soon I pass Mule & Driver and Mule tells me Goldberry has just passed them. Damn! She must have seen my pack on the hill and started running. That¢s OK, I¢ll catch her. I do and about 10:30, after a steep climb, we reach Albert Mountain where there is this lookout tower. We break for a snack. Soon Colt 45 & Pabts, Mule & Drive, and Just Do It show up. We take each others pictures and have a nice chat. This is followed by a great hike along ridge lines with great views of valleys and peaks. I¢m loving it and moving along at least 3 miles per hour. I get to Rock Gap Shelter where Fido Dido and Drifter are having lunch. I have tuna with Miracle Whip and eat like a pig. In comes Goldberry. She says she¢s staying there for the night. Oh yea, I forgot to tell you I passed her, Mule & Driver way back there when they stopped for water and I didn¢t have to. Anyway, there is a sign on the shelter that says ¢trail magic¢ down the trail a few hundred yards. Goldberry goes down to stock up. When she comes back I take off to hit the Trail just as Mule & Driver arrive. We hike down to the road where a former hiker named Butch Cassidy is handing out trail magic. I had an apple, coke and candy bars. This guy is cool. I think he said he has a ¢pacemaker¢ in his heart. What¢s going on here? I thought hiking was supposed to be healthy for you. First, Just an Echo and now Butch Cassidy. I may not make it. Remember whose responsible.Soon Dag & Mag arrive. We all are planning to stay in Franklin NC at the Microtel and take a break. I¢m planning a zero day since I¢m half day ahead. Don¢t worry, Goldberry is planning on coming to town tomorrow so she won¢t get too big a jump on me.I take off and hike fairly easy trail to where it crosses U.S. 64. Just behind me are Colt 45 and Pabst. These young ¢turks¢ are going to hike on while I stick out my thumb. Right away a young man in his 4x4 picks me up. Yeah, a hiker himself by the name of Curley Joe. He is planning to do the Trail next year and has been to Trail Days in Damascus. He loves it and said he wouldn¢t miss it¢¦.I think it¢s the beer.   These locals have been great! He drops me at the Microtel where I see Gator as I¢m checking in. I get cleaned up and soon get a call from Dag who says we are going to dinner at 5:30. So, Dag & Mag, Mule & Driver, Weeds & Gator, Border Riever and myself all go next door to Shoneys AYCE buffet. It¢s great but Mule says, ¢I¢m still hungry, let¢s go across the road to the Dairy Queen" where we have root beer floats and such..We then go back and turn in. I¢m hoping for a decent nights¢ sleep. Mule & Driver plan to move on in the a.m. while Dag, Mag & I are zeroing.Thought for the Day: You can¢t hike alone out here. The people are great!