Date: 2015-03-14
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: Nantahalah Outdoor Center
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: fog

Woke up almost every hour last night, turning myself over like a rotisserie chicken and checking periodically for wet patches on my sleeping bag. All was going well until I realised that water was actually dripping onto my face from the top of the tent. I used my towel to cover the top of my sleeping bag and went back to sleep. Until just before 7am, when I suddenly awoke to find my tent had flooded. The cause was simple. The older man camping next door had knocked down my tent corner and everything came flooding in. I had to run outside in the dark in my pjs and a headlamp to try to reassemble my tent. But the damage was already done and my tent was converted to a swimming pool. The real hero of this hike is my micro towel, which mopped up the entire inside of the tent and all of the wet contents. Each tent night so far, the micro towel has done a stellar job of trying to keep me and my sleeping bag dry. Best item so far! After that, I was quickly up, dressed, and miserably ready for another day of fog, rain and mud. We had agreed to cover about 17 miles to get to the hostel today, so we had to leave earlier than usual. I ran 0.2 miles to refill my water whilst my instant oats cooled. We actually left camp whilst I was still brushing my teeth (Osprey has many handy pockets). After, Brightside and I walked quickly through the dreary weather to try to reach Freshgrounds trail magic 3 miles away. But he wasn't there, and it was very disappointing. Instead, we saw two hikers being dropped off, including Amy, who we saw on and off throughout the day. More mud, more rain. I slipped a few times and my entire side got coated in mud. Everything was miserable. The trail was like a ski-slope but even the trekking poles didn't help. (Except as leverage to drag myself back out of the mud). About midday, I caught up with Brightside and another guy from the night before (Chip?) in a gap where a man from Cincinnati was doing a bit of trail magic. I think his name was Lowjack? Anyway, he gave us apple fritters and doritoes and it really took away the morning blues. Plus, we only had 7 more miles to go! Amy caught up with us and we all left the magic in high spirits, looking forward to quickly reaching NOC. We had a mile up, and then about six miles of ups and downs and very steep downs. It was the longest six miles of my life, and my blisters were extremely painful. For the first time, I had to actually stop mid hike and take off my sock to check what was going on in there. It felt like my little toe was being ripped off. Fortunately, all of my toes remained in place. Eventually, I made it to the NOC (after sliding in mud and nearly falling down a ledge). The NOC is a big outdoors center that does all kinds of water sports activities and looks like it is an extremely busy place in the summer. Even on a horrible day in March, it still had plenty of clean looking tourists and adventurous kayakers. Brightside was checking us in as I arrived, and we walked what felt like miles to the bunk rooms. For $20 each, we got literally just a room with bunks in it. The toilets and showers were actually a full 5 minute walk away, and the shop and restaurant even further, which was inconvenient. It was a far cry from the luxury of our $20 hotel room. Brightside started hanging her wet things whilst I inspected my blisters. Then I borrowed her crocs and we went down to the outfitters to get advice on our various ailments. No solution to the blister problem, but more plasters. I also got a new spork, extra tent poles, and a replacement valve for my camelbak. Unfortunately, the "works for all camelbak reservoirs" valve did not fit mine, and I'm going to try to return it tomorrow. Brightside at least got her pack adjusted, and will hopefully have an improved shoulder tomorrow. She also got her parcels, which included some cool St Patrick's day necklaces from her mum! (We wore them to dinner.)Then I went to the general store and got some extremely overpriced food to last me for the next couple days until we get to Fontana Dam. I've even got some pop tarts to try (untoasted) for breakfast, as everyone else seems to enjoy them. From there, Brightside and I went to the restaurant. It was the only eating place open. But it was pretty good, actually. We both had chocolate milkshakes, and I had a 16 inch cheese and salami pizza to myself since I hadn't had lunch. I wasn't able to finish it, but Brightside was still impressed. I already feel hungry almost every hour when hiking, I wonder what it will be like when the real hiker hunger kicks in. A whole bunch of other thru-hikers also came into the restaurant, and Deerdog joined our table for a while. She plays for the women's USA rugby team and is busting out some serious mileage already. Eventually we left and went back to our bunk room. Fortunately no one else had to stay with us because Brightside's stuff had basically exploded across the room. My stuff was far more neatly lined up by the radiator and fan. We were both desperate to try and dry our things. Absolutely every inch of my bag was soaking, but the dry bags did a good job of keeping things safe. Then, shower time at last! A real hot shower. Seriously glorious. More sorting and drying and sorting and drying. Brightside took some of her mums cookies to the other hikers, and bumped into Smasher who pulled a 23 mile day! (His calves are probably bigger than my head).I also finally got around to draining a couple of the incredibly large blisters on my toes. Brightside had neosporin and I had a penknife and lighter. Fairly easy process, and painless. Now to leave them to dry out overnight and plaster for tomorrow's hike.We're not sure how far we will go yet, it will definitely depend on whether we get the sunshine we have been promised. I'm also hoping that the restaurant will be open for breakfast. I think the prospect of real food might actually be one of my main motivators on the trail right now.One of the biggest mottos for nobos (North bounders) is 'no pain, no rain, no Maine'. I've posed the question a couple times to different hikers now- what do the sobos (South bounders) say? Is there anything that rhymes with Georgia?