Date: 2014-09-09
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke this morning had my coffee and quietly packed. The young couple that came in just before dark had set their tent up in the shelter. I left without waking them. I was in no hurry because I had an easy 12 mile day planned with a 900 ft being the only significant climb of the day. I planned on going into the Wolfpen County Store for a good old southern style lunch. The morning went by fast even though I had a conversation with two hikers. One northbound and one slow moving southbounder. I soon found myself at Woody Gap and GA 60 where I would hitch to the country store. I took my pack off and sat on the picnic table closest to the road. I began to hitch. An hour later I was still sitting there and only 10 cars had passed. I was having second thoughts about this idea. I called a shuttle service that had left cards on the marques and was specifically for hikers. He really didn't want to come since there were only 1 person. Finally, a day hiker came off the trail and offered me a ride. He had through hiked in ' 96. I got to the store only to find the store hand a menu up of pizza, wings and hot dogs during weekdays. Boooo. I had hot dogs in NY and was not about to get them here. So I had pizza for lunch again. I also charged my phone knowing it would be my last time before Springer. I spent some time talking with one of the owners about the hostel, how they started it and the crowds that come in the spring. It is the first store/hostel northbound hikers see. She told me that 1/3 of all the hikers that come there call a ride and go home. I have heard that same number from the hostel I was at yesterday. Bob at Top of Georgia Hostel said only a little over 200 finished last year.So anyway, I hitched back to the trail and it took only 15 minutes this time. I had only 5 miles left and it was just after 2. There was a section of trail here where they actually moved the trail to avoid a pud. I met these two women day hiking and we chatted for a couple of minutes. I said I think it is going to rain and one of them said I think you are right. We hiked on and the sky opened up and liquid sunshine came down in bucket loads. Within 5 minutes I was drenched and the trail was a river. The rain continued until I reached Gooch Mountain Shelter where I would spend the night. I would have liked to go a few more miles to shorten tomorrow's hike but the water is so scarce in N. GA right now I stayed. The next shelter Is 8 miles. They could use another one between these two for the through hikers. I guess there is no water source good enough. When i arrived at the shelter, there were two section hikers I had met at Woody Gap in the loft. They were very friendly, but one of them did all the talking. 30 minutes later another guy came in. We all talked a while and another group of 7 or 8 came in. They were tenting and we didn't really talk to them again after they passed the shelter heading to the tent site. We were all asleep by 8: 30 or so. Tomorrow I finish this adventure if all goes as planned. Today I am grateful for the dry pair of socks I have in my pack.