Date: 2007-04-03
From: Low Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: broken clouds

Journal entry by TRAINMAN.Immediately leaving the shelter we find ourselves on an old mountain road with an easily walkable dirt and rock surface. Now this road is not the typical overgrown and neglected logging road/cow path that we see so much of in the woods. Rather, this road obviously carried some degree of import in a past age. I notice that the grade is gradual, not steep at all. The bends are broad. Water courses flow under, not over, the road through proper drainage pipes. Retaining walls are built of rock. I envision that a hundred years ago many horse drawn goods' wagons had trundled between mountain towns on this route. It reminds me of many similar abandoned railroad rights-of-way that I have inspected. It's a good way to start the day. We cover a solid 4 miles in a little over an hour.Most non-hikers think there's an abundance of wildlife on the trail. Not so, rarely is anything seen other than birds, butterflies and bugs. Now that we've left the road and we're back in the "real" woods, April spots something along the trail - it's a snail! April whips out the camera, and after brief instruction from Trainman on using the MACRO setting, she gets the photo.For most of the day we had been hiking with Chuck Norris and Tigger. Around 3 o'clock we reached Unicoi Gap. I told the group that last time I was here (in 2004) I visited the town of Helen, a transplanted Bavarian village down in the valley. Instantly the Chuck-bulb lights up and he says "Let's all go visit the town, eat in a restaurant, and sleep in a bed!" This statement catches the three us off guard. We really do not need to go to town; after all, we had spent a night in the cabin just 2 days ago. Nevertheless, after a very short time spent in very serious thought, we all eagerly agree. "Let's do it!" Problem: Helen is 10 miles down the road. The only possibility is hitchhiking. Question: who is going to pick up 4 hikers? This will require a large vehicle. Might be better to split up into 2 groups of 2. Or even better, we should just send the ladies out to the roadside with their thumbs in the air. Chuck and Trainman will wait in the bushes until someone stops, then we'll just barge in on the pick-up party.Surveying the terrain we note that the traffic is moving through at a pretty good pace. We walk to the roadside position that seems to give us the most effective visual impact. The first vehicle approaches; we all stick out our thumbs. No luck. About 60 seconds later the second vehicle approaches, a minivan. No luck. Or is it? Three hundred feet past our location the tail lights come on and the van swerves into the corner of the parking area for a fast turn around. Is it possible? YES!! Amazingly we have a ride after only one minute of trying. This surely beats all previous pick-up records. We extend our thanks to the couple who gives us the ride. They have done a little hiking themselves, and have many family members who are into the sport. They drop us off at the town square in Helen. It's a nice warm day for visiting. Many youngsters are in evidence because of school break.We heard that the Super 8 motel had good accommodations and a special hiker rate. True on both accounts. The room is adequate, clean, and there's even a heated indoor pool! Not bad for $35 in a tourist town.We select the Troll Tavern for supper and have some of the best REAL German food I've tasted in a long time. Afterward we visit the Brookstown Fudge store for some dessert. April eyes the chocolate covered strawberries and inquires about the price. The proprietor states that they're 3 for a dollar. April considers this a good deal knowing that on my visit 4 years ago I paid a dollar apiece. But before she can decide how many she wants, the man says "You can have the whole tray for 5 dollars." April and Tigger look at each other, stunned. There must be a hundred strawberries on the tray. Continues the man, "Otherwise I'll just have to throw them out." In a flash April blurts out "We'll take 'em!" Once they are all bagged up the man weighs them. We have just purchased $35 dollars of chocolate strawberries for $5. We devour the goodies as we walk. Half the bag is gone by time we return to the motel.