Date: 2004-03-26
From: Blood Mtn Shelter, GA

To: Neels Gap, GA
Miles today: 2.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Early this morning I heard Sean's deep voice say "That is a skunk." To prove it he shined his flash over to his bag at his feet but the critter was gone.Earlier around 2:00 am, I had woken to the couple whispering about something. Apparently a rat had also paid a visit. "His fat ass was sticking out of that pocket of my backpack," Jen said. Sean chased it away but only after it rampaged Ashley's garbage bag. I had to laugh. I missed the whole thing. Not only did I sleep very well, but I was toasty warm thanks to Sean and Ashley fixing a garbage bag over the south window. It blocked all the wind and we were cozy.The morning was foggy but burned off as I headed down the mountain. Before I had pulled on my dead-weight pack, we were visited by John, Darren, Andy, Steve, and other nameless hikers. They had all woken early to hit the upslope to Blood and get down to Neels Gap.We all met up again at Neels Gap two hours later. I saw John from Hikers Hostel there too. He started with me three days ago. Some chose to move on, some chose to stay and lose some pack weight by having the staff comb through their stuff. Steve lost fifteen, but gained a lot in the 25 lb maildrop he picked up. Most of that was mailed ahead.I spent the day doing laundry and trying to organize my emails. Still haven't sent out a letter telling people how they may contact me. The sun was so bright that I laid most of my clothes out to dry. I wore the sundress Maria gave me and my jacket and I was still plenty warm.John suddenly realized he left his food bags hanging back at Woods Hole Shelter, a 4.8 mile hike south. But Trail Magic prevailed. Ashley was not thru-hiking but turning around to head back to his car at Woody Gap. He agreed to pick them up and mail them to John. Later a hiker gave John the food bags after he bumped into Ashley.Around 3 I thought I should ask what we could do about dinner. The guys were watching a movie and figured they would hitch to town. I asked Jerry in the store and he offered us a shuttle at 6:30 if we rounded up enough people. I told Darren and we gathered ten willing hikers. Because I instigated this dinner excursion, everyone was looking to me for answers to questions, such as "What kind of car is it?", "Does it pull up in front?"As I tried to write some emails on the front steps of the hostel, who should walk off the path across the street but One Leg. His family pulled up in their van at the same time. I was surrounded by kids again. The baby, Elijah Zachery or E-Z, played with my toes as I talked to Hannah, Cricket, Tyler, and Caleb. There is another boy but his name escapes me. Lisa and Scott gave me their cell incase I needed a ride any place.Flash Hand had also arrived and tested my stilted ASL. Shortly they took off and the kids all said good bye to me from the van.We ended up eating in Blairsville at an AYCE restaurant called the Cookie Jar. Boy, I can't wait to hit the Trail again so I can enjoy some good cooking. Need I say more?At first I thought Neels Gap would not be a good place to stay, but the owners are nice and I needed a day off, even if it wasn't officially a zero day.