Date: 2007-04-21
From: Bly Gap

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I had some unbelievable trail magic! I hiked out early and passed many familiar sights, but few hikers. At Deep Gap, I found Jon Phipps eating a snack and met a local Cecil Saunders waiting on his sons who were picking ramps. Otherwise I hiked a bit with thru-hiker miker and we ate mint and smelled other plants along the way today. I took the side trail up to Standing Indian and I'm enjoying the veiw, when Jon shows up. He unloads the contents of his pack and it looks like he's having a yard sale. Tarps and clothing hanging from every available bush, not exactly the wilderness veiw I had imagined. Though, it was good to have company. Then, out of the woods, came a day hiker. After introductions, he asked if I was the Jellybean on trailjournals. He remembered reading about me and said he was also a truck driver and had driven for Schnieder before he decided it wasn't that good of a life for a family man. Anyways, he said that he had left some beer in a cooler for last night's hikers and he thought there may be a couple left. It was well hidden under some branches and such, but he gave a pretty good picture, so I thought I'd be able to find it. Thru-hiker Miker, Jon and I were now in a race over 2 beers. And it was going to make it a long day! They were at Betty Gap. I guess thru-hiker miker stopped at Carter Gap Shelter, but Jon and I looked everywhere for the cooler. We couldn't find it, however, when I went down to the water source, Bisbee came running back with a black border collie, so I went across the creek to see if the owners might have some extra dog food. The cold weather has Bisbee eating way more food than usual! There was a road, with a grassy campsite and a tent trailer all set up. The owners, Brad and Kim and the dog named Dillon did indeed share dog food and then invited me to come visit after I set up camp. No mention of dinner mind you! So I set up my tent, cooked and ate my ramen, hung my bear bag and went across the creek to meet my neighbors. Brad and Kim were from North Atlanta and they were truly amazing! They have been everywhere it seems and are living the life I hope to live, though I'll be probably on a much tighter budget, And, they hadn't eaten yet. They asked how many were camped there, It was just me and Jon and Jon had camped 2/10th of mile back up on the trail to get out for an early start. He wasn't coming. It was just me and Bisbee. The asked if I wanted to share their dinner. Of course, I told them I had eaten, but I could always eat a little more. But, get this, She worked in a very high end restaruant and had access to the best filet minon, I don't even know how to spell it, but I do know it doesn't taste like your ordinary meat from the grocery store. And what's more, They were grilling a tasty chicken, a rice pilaf, and fried squash, oo oo delicious with a special salsa topping, WoW! I haven't eating food this good, since the night before I started out on the trail in 2005 at Mastro's in Phoenix. Ok, so they offered me wine too, but I took a coke instead.The moral of the story! When in search of magic, beware, it may not come in the form you expect!