Date: 2013-04-24
From: No Business Knob 

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel & Outfitters
Miles today: 5.7

I woke up in the middle of the night soaking in sweat. I unzipped my bag and thrust it open. I had sweated through my clothes and the inside of my bag was wet. Wow, what a difference a couple of days make! Other than that I slept well. I could hear the others moving about, but I didn't get going until 6:45. Other than my right ankle being a little sore, I feel fantastic. Last night I hobbled in on screaming ankles and feet, and today I feel astonishingly buoyant. I mended my blistered toe, and as I was cutting a piece of gauze, my scissors snipped the fabric of my very expensive Ice Breaker leggings. My eyes grew with and I took a quick breath. I stretched the fabric to assess the damage. About 1/8 inch hole. Snap! I finished patching my toes, and then I pulled out the sewing kit and stitched the hole. I ran my finger over the puckered fabric. It wouldn't win me a blue ribbon in the 4-H Dress Show, but hopefully it would keep the fabric from running. I asked Sky Pilot and Odette's opinion on ankle-wrapping techniques. They delightfully informed me that there was an ER doctor/section hiker in our tent city. The kind fellow, aptly named 'Doc' checked my ankle and wrapped it snugly. He apologized for his cold hands, I apologized for my hairy legs. The camp cleared out quickly, and I had to resist the urge to "rush" out with the crowd. I forced myself to sit on the log and go through my breakfast routine. Slow Roast appeared, and we had a good laugh about the birds giving us a 7:30 a.m. check-out. The first couple of miles were and easy stroll. I noticed that the trees have popped and the vistas are starting be more blocked. The far trees are painted in a varied palette of greens and occasionally reds. There are wild geraniums, violets of many colors, aster, sassafras, irises, green briar, virginia creeper, poison ivy, oak, ash, beech, hickory, maple, and of course the ever-diligent pine, holly and hemlocks. There are also lots of other leaves that Imdon't recognize. I saw the Nolichucky River and heard a train horn blaring, so I knew I was getting close.I was happy to see Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel come into view. I had decided to stay there solely based on the name (I'm a sucker for a good name. On a trip to England a few years ago to visit a friend, Tom and I stayed at the Wooky Hole Inn, just because it was too good to pass up. We had a marvelous time!). I settled into my charming private cabin (heaven!), collected my dirty clothes and bounce box, and rented a bike and headed into town. I had a sweet yellow and pink beach cruiser with a seat that was at least 5 inches to low. I hung my orange stuff-sack purse and dirty laundry bag from the handle bars and peddles into town. I had my heart set on Mexican food, but was directed to the Hawg-n-Dawg instead. The owner was friendly and the staff kept me fed and watered (I literally drank almost 64 oz of water). The pulled-pork nachos, side salad and root beer float didn't have a chance. I wrote in my journal and willed Tom to call. I was feeling a little sad and melancholy. I needed my Tom-fix. I looked down and saw that I had a voicemail, but my phone had never rung. I knew without checking that it had been Tom. I almost cried. Noooooooooo! I sent him an email asking him to call back. Please call back. I said goodbye to Hawg-n-Dawg crew and peddled down to the laundromat. My phone started ringing. It was him! We chatted while the laundry washed and dried. As I hung up, the rain started coming down hard at odd angles. I had a long bike ride back. But I got to talk to Tom, so I could get two flat tires and it could keep pissing it down and I wouldn't have cared. I caught a break in the weather and dsahed to the Walgreens for a food resupply. There was a table selling t-shirts and shorts for the local high school. I needed a pair of sleep shorts, and for $5 I found a pair of Shepherd-Pirate-blue 'cheerleading' (their words, not mine) shorts with the words "Blue Devils" written across the butt. Nice.The rain got harder as I biked the 5 miles back to the hostel, but I was happy. I had figured out how raise the seat and my shopping bags were virtually water-proof. I said 'hi'to the hikers hanging out in front of the hostel. I retreated to my little cabin refuge and took out my book. Lynde called, but the cell service on both ends was spotty, so the call kept dropping. Finally we both gave up. It was 10 p.m., and I was tired. I listened to the rain and felt the temperature drop. It was nice to be inside and dry.