Date: 2005-03-20
From: Cheese Factory Site

To: The Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 12.5

Miles hiked today : 12.5This morning, I was up at 6:00 a.m. and on the trail by 6:55 a.m. I was pretty happy to be getting such an early start, as I had visions of town in my mind. As I was lifting my pack, I heard the sound of coyotes howling down the hill.On the topic of wildlife, I haven't really seen much other than a handful of small birds and a few hawks (appropriately, while I was climbing Hawk Mountain). On a couple mornings, I listened to the sound of woodpeckers, presumably working for their breakfast. I may have heard a bullfrog one morning, though I'm unsure.The first climb of today was 1,470 feet up Tray Mountain, which still had a very minute amount of remnant snow. Other hikers that stayed at the Cheese Factory Site had suggested saving the hike for the morning, though I didn't find it very difficult. Then again, perhaps it's because I had a good night of rest.While hiking, I usually feel like I'm poking along, though a couple hikers I passed today commented that I was making pretty good time. I was surprised when I covered the 7.2 miles to Addis Gap in just under four hours. The 965 foot climb out of Addis Gap to Kelly Knob seemd to last forever, especially in the sun. Temperatures today reached the mid 60s for a short period of time.I continued on with the goal of making Dicks Creek Gap. With only 2.6 miles left, I stopped at a viewpoint just before Powell Mountain for what is becoming a standard lunch of Ritz Crackers with peanut butter. After lunch, it was a small climb to the Powell Mountain summit, then a long 1,190 foot descent to Dicks Creek Gap. My knees weren't feeling so great at the end of it.Upon arriving at Dicks Creek Gap, I found myself ready for my first hitchhike into town. I'd heard stories from other hikers telling of drivers pulling over as soon as they left the trail, asking whether they needed a ride. That wasn't quite my experience.When I reached the parking lot at Dicks Creek Gap, there was one other hiker, Snuffalupagus, waiting for a hitch. I quickly had my thumb out waiting for a car to appear and one soon did. But they didn't pull over. What!? I kept trying, all the while smiling and waving at the cars driving by, often receiving waves back. I even pulled out the fabric "Hiker To Town" sign my Grandmother made for me, though that didn't seem to make a difference. Four more hikers showed up and, after about ten minutes, someone suggested that a group of six hikers was intimidating and that part of the group should pull back from the side of the road.Just at that moment, a small SUV that had recently passed in the wrong direction, came back and asked if any of us were going to Clayton. We told him that we were actually headed the other direction toward Hiawassee, but thanked him for coming back. He pulled forward to drive off, then hopped out and said, "Come on, I've got room for three." It turned out that the driver, Jabez, thru-hiked the AT in 2001 and was in the area for the weekend.Snuffalupagus and I grabbed our packs, as did one of the other hikers that had most recently shown up. I was the first to be dropped off, 3.5 miles down the road, at The Blueberry Patch, which is a Christian hostel operated by Gary and Lennie Poteat. It opens February each year and is currently in its 13th season.Maybe its the time that I've spent in the woods, but this place is overwhelmingly great. Gary showed me around the bunkhouse, which has a telephone, a hot plate, a microwave, and a refridgerator. He also pointed out where the shower house was. If that wasn't already enough, he told me that if I'd put my laundry in one of the baskets, they'd do my laundry for me. Wow! The last time my laundry was done for me was as a 12 year old. Before heading out, Gary let me know that breakfast was served at 8:30 a.m. I believe that blueberry pancakes, one of my favorites, is the norm. The blueberry bushes out back are currently bare, but are supposed to be in bloom in late April.I was the second hiker to arrive today and the first hiker, Joe of Charlotte, NC, told me about the donkeys out back. I asked whether he would take a picture of me with the donkeys, and as we were headed out, we met Gary on his way to feed them. They are a mother and daughter pair, named Sweet B and Hallelujah, respectively. Gary received them as a gift from a hiker in June 2003.Gary told us that these were a special breed of donkey called a "Jesus Donkey." So called because of the marking of the cross on their back, a tail that appears similar to the scourge used on Jesus, as well as dark patches of fur on the ankles that correspond to the wounds on the hands of Jesus. He also pointed out that they have weepy eyes, which corresponds to the tear that God shed when Jesus died. Apparently, these are the same breed of donkey that Jesus road to Jerusalem. Gary said that according to scripture, this breed of donkey received their markings 2005 years ago today, Palm Sunday. I hadn't been aware that it was Palm Sunday today, or that next Sunday is Easter.After feeding the donkeys, I toured the 3 acre yard, snapping photographs of the mailbox in the gourd patch, as well as the parking sign pointing into the stream. The stream, a mere trickle, flows into a large creek, which has a small staircase that descends to a platform, perfect for soaking your feet. I was tempted, though the water was too cold.As I wrap up this entry, there are three hikers in for the evening. After breakfast, I'm headed into Hiawassee to pick up my first maildrop and to send a couple items home. If all goes well, I'll be back on the trail early enough to cover the 8.4 miles to the North Carolina border.Bedtime at 9:15 p.m.