Date: 2007-05-08
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN--zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Up and showered, then took a bike from the batch of loaners at the hostel and rode to town, havin' breakfast w/the locals at the Hi-Ace Diner; my bad timing as they said one of the regulars treats each hiker to breakfast, but he was away. Then got directions to the other Hostel in town, the famous Ms. Janet's. On the way passed the Carolina Deli and had a dessert breakfast, then tooled over to the Hostel. Saw Sweetwater and extolled the virtues of my good friends who'd treated me so well. Also met Ms. Janet who offered me to stay. Then in walked Jelly Bean, with her dog Biz, whom I'd seen 2 weeks prior; they'd skipped the Smokies. She was being shuttled by "Bluetooth", and soon they were gone. Others at the extravagant breakfast were: Bullwinkle & Fish Stix, whom I'd met a few days prior with their dog. The atmosphere so nice that once back at Uncle Johnny's I packed and hitched back to Janet's on a clear beautiful day, wondering why I wasn't hiking, but slowing down allows me to get to Trail Days on time, and having hiked fairly hard under tough conditions a few days, I felt, why should I be the only one without an off-day? I hitched the two miles into town and the gent who picked me up was a manager at FEDEX and told me all about the town; it had been a pottery-makin' town and there are five basic (factory) house designs. Erwin is also where CSX RR originated; it was their crane which once hung an elephant, a sad piece of history some 100 years ago. A traveling circus had led their animals through another town, the elephant, who'd been harassed, got spooked and a death resulted; the townspeople decided to hang the beast and it was brought here for that purpose.E-mail at the library and at Ms. Janet's; haircut. I got permission to do a feed for the evening meal and Tim, the driver took me to the store. Salad, baked potatoes w/vegetable-cheese topping, french bread w/a different cheese topping. Ms. Janet made 2 meatloaves which were a big hit (bigger than my makings, 'tho the bread was popular). Hikers donated cash as they wished, and I'll allow as it cost me a bit, even w/Ms. J. donating the meat loaves.Ms. Janet is the ultimate Trail Angel on the AT and got concerned when 2 hikers weren't where they were supposed to be at day's end. (She provides shuttles). She stayed at the trailhead for hours, which held up dinner for 1 1/2 hrs.; finally, I said, "Let's eat!" and we did, on her long tables in her beautiful back yard, under a colorful sky. One of the missing hikers showed when dinner was about over. Later Janet decided to send out a posse to find the other; they hiked some 11 miles and later the gent, a local fellow, was found at home: two red herrings. (I din't help for 2 reason: I strongly felt there was a mis-communication and no real emergency and, 2: I'm slow, wouldn't be much good). Turns out, I was right, thank goodness.Some dozen hikers stayed at the place; for $20 you get to overnight, laundry, internet and a killer breakfast. (The feed I offered was an impromptu thing). After breakfast there's a shuttle back to the trail., some 2 mi, distant. I'll be on it, planning on EZ 15-mi. days to Kincorra, Bob People's Hostel, and another trail institution. Lookin' forward to it.