Date: 2015-04-14
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Fontana Village Resort
Miles today: 17.1

So it rained all night last night. Not really a big deal and I slept through most of it. The water pooled in my tent through the latest cut in the bottom was annoying. I'm slowly, but stubbornly, opening myself back up to the tent market. Hubba hubba, anyone? Look it up if you have no idea what I'm talking about.I woke up at 6:30 and since I had access to a cell phone signal I looked up the weather. The cell currently dumping on my tent was on the outs and the one behind it left me an hour window to pack up. I apparently can't let go of technology, even 10 miles from the nearest road. Need to work on that.I packed up and was gone by 7:45. The first 4 miles were easy, punctuated by a trash can and picnic table at Stecoah Gap. It's the little things, folks. I grabbed a 2nd breakfast, emptied my trash, and crossed the road that was fogged in with blind corners in both directions.After the 4th mile I finally got to the infamous Jacob's Ladder. When you read elevation profiles in the morning you tend to look at rise/run instead of total climb. Remember Algebra, kids? Jacob's Ladder was 600 feet up in .6 of a mile. Short, but straight up. Add in the rain and muddy trail and you have a recipe for a good time.After that the next 6 or so miles to Cable Gap Shelter were pretty tame so I decided that I could at least make the 500 foot climb to the ridge before camping. Problem is, once I got the the top I could see Fontana Lake and Fontana Dam. Alright fine, its only 4.5 miles and its 3:00. I can do this.Nobody ever mentions the descent into Fontana. Its about 1700 feet of slippery rocks, mud, and a bit of shame. My quads weren't having it but I pressed on out of pure stubbornness. Well, that and there were zero campsites until the bottom anyway.I rolled into NC 28 around 5:30 and made the call from the courtesy phone for the $3 shuttle. He was there in record time and I was in the shower about 15 minutes later. Glorious. Jeopardy and a few others are here as well.About 6:30 I went up to the dining room for dinner and was eating alone until I realized the guy at the next table was also a thru-hiker. I invited him over. His name is Fasterdad and he has a trail journal. Check it out. He also got his Master's at Auburn and wears an AU hat on the trail. I'd go into what I ate but let's just put it at 'everything' and every bit of sweet tea they had.Good news is that I was able to dry my tent, rainfly, and footprint on the balcony rail, redneck style. Bad news is that I'm a little sore and did far more today than I should have.Tomorrow morning I need to resupply and wash clothes. Not sure what time I'll get back to the trail. In the Smokies you have to stay in shelters because Yogi will eat you otherwise. The first shelter is 12.3 miles from where I got off today. Everything depends on when town chores get done and I can shuttle back up to the trail. If it's late I'll go the mile to the Fontana Hilton Shelter. If I have time I'll head over the dam and into the Smokies. Probably to Mollies Ridge Shelter. We'll see.I've learned that if I need to walk fast Michael Franti will do the trick, hence the title. It's far different than my usual musical tastes but it has grown on me.