Date: 2005-04-06
From: Addis Gap

To: Hiawasee (spelling?) GA
Miles today: 5.3

Today we hiked out after a decent nights rest. The otherwise greyish forest was very lush around the stream cutting through the campground. Large native, evergreen Rhododendrons followed the water. There large bannana-sized leaves give a somewhat tropical feel. I have already walked through vast tunnels of these giant plants as the trail relentless winds its way through the GA mountains. I've passed 14 foot walls of green and pass by small flowers spurting from the ground just off the trail. It seems that the erosion and clear trail surface is perfect for flowers to surface with plenty of light as oposed to fighting their way through the death and decay of the downed leaves from who knows how many previous autumn seasons. It is nice to see an occasional flower here and there. I am not much of a botonist so I can't name them, but I have seen many whites and purples. I am sure Brett knows their names. It is refreshing, because even though spring has sprung in the valley towns throughout GA, it is still pretty dreary up in the mountain elevations. Today we hiked down to a road crossing. I took a long time to get there. We are in pretty bad shape from pressing miles.   I finally got the road, and we prepared to hitch a ride into Hiawasee 11 miles down the way. Hitch hiking is almost a small art form in itself. Little tricks can help land a ride. For instance, you don't want to stick your thumb out standing in the road past a turnoff point. You need to walk up against the traffic direction you are interested in. This gives drivers a chance to pull off the road. Otherwise, even people who are slightly interested in picking you up would second guess it if they are already wizzing by and have no decent place to stop. Fortunately today there is a small gravel parking lot. I went up the street about 100 yards and started digging out my super-bright hunter blaze-orange shirt. This shirt is capable of keeping someone up at night it is so bright. I figure I would wear this to attract attention. Unfortunately it was all the way at the bottom of my pack. As I was digging through my pack to the bottom, pulling out all sorts of clothing articles, I could hear the first vehicle coming up around the bend. I didn't even have a chance to dig out the shirt, so I just put my arm out and sure enough it was a pick-up truck that pulled over right away. Just my luck to have everything laying out on the side of the road as it pulls in to the lot 100 yds away. I stuff what I can in my pack and grab the rest and dash for the truck. Brett, Ninja Dave, Wandering Bull, and I jump into the truck and we head on down towards Hiawasee in the beautiful GA weather. (Wandering Bull had already been hiking for several weeks on the Florida trail before connecting to the AT).      It was a great ride (about 10-15 minutes or so) through some nice country. The land was extremely green as we wizzed past old barns and wild flowers. The standard/usuall rural farm scene. It was very colorful with the bright blue sky above. I was holding onto the side of the truck, just incase the tailgait decided to fail and open as we tore ass down the road at 40-50 miles per hour. The pavement looked like a giant grey and yellow belt sander that was hungry for flesh.      We made it into town and resupplied at a Food City. An excellant name for a grocery store if I ever saw one. We are staying at a Holiday Inn Express for about 20 bucks each. The hostel in town was 17 bucks, so we figured for the extra few bucks we'd spring for the pool and hot-tub/spa. And boy have we abused the spa. It really makes the muscles and joints feel good. Although it doesn't help with swelling, it does help circulation which also allows a broken body to repair. We are on the third floor, and I'd be damned if we didn't use the elevator every time. Screw going up stairs. You figured it would be no problem after climbing up 500 ft over the span of a mile with a thirty pound pack on your back, but right now we are hurting and in need of a complete rest. I also ice in between the heat therapy. Showers don't hurt either. And oh the joys of catching a Simpsons episode or two. How I miss living in Springfield every night. I dont watch much TV, and despise most of the programs on it nowadays, but I can't get enough of the Simpsons. Watching one episode will carry me for a few weeks on the trail as I can remmeber and quote scenes for quite some time.   But anyhoo, finally pampering myself is good.   I didn't really need the pampering, but I did really need a break and rest. We decided to stay one more day and take a zero tomrow for our best interests. We are also slowing down our pace and I will be taking more breaks during the day. It is hard to stop momentum, but it is obviously for the best. The miles will come soon enough. That is all for now.