Date: 2004-05-23
From: deep gap,nc

To: greasy creek friendly hostel,nc
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

11.2 miles todaygreasy creek friendly hostel,ncgreasy creek gap,ncboy, am i ever glad i didn't stay on top of that mountain last night. at about 9pm a thunderstorm hit and it was a wild one. the lightening was hitting all around and was striking about every 3 seconds during the worst part of the storm. it rained very hard and lasted for about 1 1/2 hours altogether. i just layed here in my tent and was able to enjoy it because i was staying nice and dry. i'm trying to take more time on my hike and it seems to be working because it's 8:15am and i'm still in my tent. i haven't even had breakfast yet. "paparazzi" stayed in his hammock not too far away from me last night and he had a different experience with that storm. he said water was coming in his hammock and he got soaked and everything he had in it got soaked. he sat in his hammock with his feet on the ground during the storm to let the water run out, but he said it was miserable. 10:10am, i'm sitting on top of unaka mountain and the black flies are gone. i walked out of them about 3/4 the way up this mountain. i just ate an orange and was thinking to myself how nice it is without the swarming black flies. i was also thinking that all of my brothers are hard at work while i'm sitting here on this nice mountain when i realized that this is sunday and the bums are all probably still in bed sleeping. there are no views up here, but the dark wet pine trees and the quiet are very easy to handle.12 noon   i'm sitting here eating lunch and "paparazzi", "shannon" and "swedish" are here. it really seems strange to see the same hikers now that i've slowed down on the miles that i've been walking. it is a rainy morning. it's been lite rain though. i was walking in the rain and eating an apple and enjoying the day. i stopped at iron mountain gap and took a break before hiking on. i saw 7 orange newts today and 4 of them were close together. there were 2 big ones and two small ones. i figured that it was a newt family. there was mr. and mrs. newt and young nancy and nathaniel newt. i don't think the other three were related. yeah, i know, i know....i'm spending too much time alone.i heard thunder to the east all afternoon and i didn't get anymore rain until i got to greasy creek gap. this hostel is about .6 miles to the east of the trail and i got rained on coming down here. "packrat" and "ceecee" own this hostel and they really, really make you feel welcome. within 10 minutes of getting here, "ceecee" had already made me a delicious cheese burger and a platter of nachos with salad, salsa, sour cream and melted cheese. "packrat" likes cars and "ceecee" likes to cook. "ceecee" is my kind of person. she loves to cook and i love to eat. i will never again be able to hike by here without stopping in for an overnight stay. you can resupply here, you can eat here, they have sodas and ice cream, a tv and phone and make feel completely at home. i highly recommend it for a stay. i've had my shower and "paparazzi" showed up and "ceecee" has a chicken in the oven baking it for me....life is good!!! she is even cooking me a sit down breakfast in the morning and g! rilling a couple of cheeseburgers for me to pack in the morning. another beautiful day on the a.t.