Date: 2013-04-18
From: Davenport Gap

To: first flat spot past standing bear hostel
Miles today: 6.0

Day 29I hike down out of the Smoky Mountain National Park, Wheeee! I'm done with the Smokies. I got the the road and it got super confusing. I crossed the road and the bridge and I found the next white blaze . I stood for a minute til I located the next one. I needed to get to the hostel to resupply and I didn't want to risk it, I got super frustrated trying to find the white blazes. I crossed under I-40 and came to a gravel road with the AT going up the mountain I knew the hostel was down a gravel road so I figured I'd walk for 10 min turn around if I didn't find it. I eventually turned around checked my map and continued .9 up the mountain. I climbed the mountain an came to a river that had a spray painted rock with a hostel name on it. I followed the sign a couple hundred yards and came to the standing bear hostel. The owner approached me and he sure looked like a southern hippie. He showed me the tour talking as if he were drunk or something. The place looked rundown and had random decor. Mexican sombreros dotted the kitchen ceiling while beer bottles accented the showersMaps and flags heresplattered across teh bunk house. I entered the minihouse filled with hiker food and got what I needed to get to Hot Springs. I got several goodies to eat here and a yahoo. I was nasty but my fudge was quite tasty.l I ate as I charged my phone so I could tell my family that I was alive. I'd been in the Smokies for 7 days and my phone died the first day. So I had lots of messages asking me was I OK? Was I alive! Berkeley was at the hostel and we both were planning on going 7+ more miles that day after resupply and shower. He left just before noon as I was getting packed up. Then some people I knew arrived so I talked with them. I made my way to the shower and it was so amazing. Even with out soap or shampoo, hot water still felt so cleansing. I'd gotten real sweaty and dirty in the smokies. Then Hawaii arrived and soon after Cinderella and Nighting Gale and Amazon. I haven't seen them in a few days so we chat a bit. I watch as they both go through their mail drops. It's interesting to see what people send themselves or what their family sends them. Nighting Gale got an Easter bunny and a bag of candy - chocolate easter eggs. They wer so tasty. I got hungry again so I bought some more food and a sprite. I soon grew so tired from the sugar rush and crash so I took a nap in Nighting gales bunk on the small soft mattress that felt so comfy. I laid there for 45 min listening to the wind and the soft chimes my friends voices and an occasional dog bark. The bunkhouse doors were open because it was a nice day. I dozed a bit and got up and split a cheese burger with Laura, Cutoff's girlfriend. They were planning on going up the mountain several miles to the first campsite so that sounded like a good idea as it was now 4:30pm. I mailed some post cards and left just before 5. It was still super hot with the sun firing into the leafless forest. I pushed on through my sweat and arrived at the spring and campsite where I waited for Cutoff and Laura. They showed up after about 10 min. It got real buggie around the water so we all got plenty of water and trudged up the mountainside looking for a better spot. After an hour we found a nice spot on top of a ridge but below the highest ridge. Cutoff made a nice size fire assisted by the wind while Laura and I made dinner. For dessert they had nutella spread on a tortilla. I tried a bite and man was it good! I hadn't had a nutella in weeks I go in my tent at 9 and slept fine till about 1am, the wind was howling and my tent rippled noisily with each gust. I could hear the trees twisting and smashing into each other. I wasn't scared but just annoyed at all the noise and uneasiness. I got up at 7 and unsuccessfully made breakfast in the wind. Cutoff and Lura were late sleepers so I was all packed up and leaving before they even woke up. It sprinkled a tiny bit as I was packing up so I tried to get going as fast as possible.