Date: 2007-05-15
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap/Hiawasee Inn
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I rise early, as always, and get right to work today. Food is on my mind, and Dicks Creek Gap is just over 10-miles away. I cook my oatmeal-with-peanut-butter, and quickly break down camp. Despite my supposed "quickness" (it only exists in my mind, really, among my many other imaginings), Bruce and Jan are out first, along with a father and son who tented nearby last night, also! They were really nice, I just can't remember their names!I catch up with Bruce and Jan just before the Swag of the Blue Ridge. The Swag is nice and smooth, which I readily enjoy, especially after the steep, rocky, rugged descent from Tray. I do enjoy these steeps, though, even if only in retrospect! I cruise past the duo, and take advantage of the ease of the Swag, trying to make great time, to stuff my belly with some real food. I plan to stay at Cloud 9 Hostel, and today, according to Wingfoot, is the last day they take in hikers!The terrain is relatively easy today, except for the descent from Tray, and the climb up and over Kelly Knob. Maybe it was a bad time of day for me, but Kelly Knob was easily one of the more difficult climbs so far! It's nice all the same, as I have a good friend back home named Kelly. I make sure to snap a few shots for her while on the shoulder (I don't recall the Trail actually going over the summit, but rather going around it).There are only a few short steep ups-and-downs from Kelly Knob to Dicks Creek Gap. Again, just like at Neels Gap, the hardest thing is hearing the traffic from at least a mile back, which then gives the psychological impression that the road is right over this knoll or right around this bend! The Trail, I am reminded at times like this, is not my friend, but is kind of like one of those old high school teachers you only appreciate in hindsight!So, here I am at the Gap (finally!), ready to hitchhike to Cloud 9. I have never done this before, and am slightly nervous. Here goes! The first person who sees me stops! Amazing! He's an elderly gentleman who tells me in his thick southern drawl, "I love them hikers, and love that Trail. Me? I'm too old to consider doing it, so I do what I can to support and them hikers." He takes me to Cloud 9, where I meet the owner, Frank. Frank is from England, and his accent throws me off at first, being that I'm still in the Deep South!Frank shows me to the RV, which serves as the hostel, he says. A nice hot shower sounds like heaven right now, so I am heartbroken when Frank is unable to get the hot water to work! So, he gives me a ride into town to the Hiawassee in. During the drive, and amidst small talk, I notice the price difference at the Inn! So much for saving money!I enter the lobby of the Inn, and meet Ron. Immediately, he asks me if I'm willing to share a room with another hiker, making it cheaper. I tell him sure, but to be discreet incase it's a quack, or something, with whom I wouldn't want to share a room with. He turns around, and points at a hiker coming down the driveway, saying, "Well, that's him right there!" It turns out to be Sagbutt! I figured he'd be several days ahead of me now, due to my knee slowing me down!We end up sharing the room, and I learn that Sagbutt came in yesterday and shared the room with Lucas (whom I saw on Springer the day I left, and met at the Trail junction for Hawk Mountain Shelter), who left today. Sagbutt took a zero to let his blisters heal. I wasn't planning on doing this, but the idea sounds nice, so I quickly cave in.I walk to the Chinese Buffett, and gorge myself on two full plates of food, while trying to have a conversation with my mother on my cellphone, while stuffing my face! I also get to chat with my Nigerian friend Bernard, who is working in Hawaii; my Polish friend Gosia, who lives in Jersey City, NJ; and my Italian friend Luca, who's working near Boston! Apart from my mother, the phone time seems to be international time, too!I'm exhausted, and can't wait to sleep, so climb into bed I shall! Good night!