Date: 2013-11-20
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Tray Gap
Miles today: 24.1

DAY 164MILES ON AT FOR DAY- 24.1MILES TOTAL FOR DAY- 24.1So the past two nights were freezing. I mean I didn't sleep. Tossing and turning and waking up every 15 minutes. Last night it didn't help that there were mice all over the shelter too. Thankfully nothing got into my bag. Something bigger than a mouse was also running around the shelter. Eventually, around 5:30am, I just got up. I shared the shelter with Nectar, Shuffles, and Johnny Rebel while Spits, Maverick, Turtle, Smiles, and Dave the Pirate tented. It was one of those shelters that says its an 8 person shelter but is really a 5 person. So most people tented. I probably should have to try to keep warm!So I finally just got up. I kept saying to myself, "4 more nights. That's it". Never did I imagine I would be cold this far south at this time of year. I guessed wrong. I had a pop tart and tried to make coffee but my fuel canister ran out. Always a lovely surprise. So no coffee. I was wide awake anyways.We got out around 7:30am. Didn't sit around for too long. Nectar and her crew were already moving. They were headed into Hiawassee. Turtle, Spits, Maverick, Smiles, Dave the Pirate and I headed out, Georgia bound! We were 3 miles from the border!It was windy and still early so we were bundled up. There were no switch backs and the PUDS (pointless ups and downs) were smaller but steeper. Plentiful PUDS and no switchbacks. That's Georgia so far after today. This didn't help my left knee which has been hurting since over a week ago and getting worse for which reason I don't know.We hit the NC/GA border which was huge. Our last state. Our last border crossing. From that point we had 78 miles left! It was an incredible and bitter sweet feeling. It was nice to cross it with friends and with people that I had known and been hiking on and off with since VT! As the day went on the sun came out and warmed the air more. This was the nice part of the leaves being off the trees. Although it now blinded us where before some days you never saw the sun when you were in the green tunnel all day. You could also always see the outline of the mountains beyond. It's not a view but it's nice to see something! So the day got nicer. We went up and down. And we were in Georgia!! Dave the Pirate, Smiles, and Turtle got off half way. Turtle wasn't feeling so hot and the other two had to go into town to resupply. It was hard saying bye. They were planning to finish a day after us so we wouldn't see them again. My first pang of leaving the trail. It was weird.We dropped our packs there and slack packed the second half of the day. Alana had also brought chips, samoa cookies (my favorite), and chicken to the road. Now thats a best friend right there We went onward! We had originally planned to stop and camp at Tray Gap but Maverick, once again, came through with an awesome plan. His grandparents had a mountain home right outside of Hiawassee and they were going to let us stay there. We got of the trail just before dark, got a pumpkin shake from DQ, a gingerbread latte from Starbucks (first of the season!), and headed to Ingles to get movies and beer! Got a nice southern pecan nut brown ale by lazy magnolia brewery, some more ibuprofen, chocolate covered acai berries (now and always has been my fav treat on the trail), and 2 movies! Hadn't planned to go into Hiawassee, be in another town or sleep in a bed again until the end but I will certainly not complain! This was great!We got to the mountain home which was gorgeous. It had a a basketball hoop in the basement and a view of the mountains off the back porch! Nicest shelter id been in yet! We watched The Place Beyond the Pines and The Heat and ate Digorno pizza and beer. It was unexpected an amazing. I needed a night inside. A good nights sleep would make the next days hike so much more enjoyable. Plus it was nice to hang out with everyone all night instead of retreating to our sleeping bags at 6:30pm because its so cold. It was one of the last nights id be able to hang out with all these people. The thought was sad. But the thought of finishing was exciting! We stayed up late. Way past hiker midnight. But it was well worth it