Date: 2006-03-02
From: 1/2 mile north of Gooch Gap, Ga

To: Neels Gap, Ga.
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: overcast clouds

13.7 miles todaySleeping at homeNeels Gap, Ga.I woke up at 5:45am with coffee and fruit pies on my mind. :-)))   I brewed my coffee and enjoyed breakfast on the first morning in the woods of this thru hike.It was very mild out this morning. There was lots of fog and it was probably about 45 degrees, which is very warm for these mountains this time of year.I got all packed up and started walking at 6:50am.It looks like I can walk in daylight right now between the hours of about 6:45am to 6:45pm. It's nice to have the 12 hours of daylight.I always love walking here in Georgia because the ground is so soft on your feet.I also love walking through the forest this time of year. There are no leaves on the trees and you can see all the mountains off in the distance most of the time. It's a thrill to meet all the new thru hikers too....the Class of '06 and I'm one of them!! :-)))I walked through Woody Gap and there wasn't even one car parked there. I think that's the first time that I've walked through there and didn't see any vehicles.I got rid of my garbage in the cans. Garbage cans are one of the nicest things to run across at road crossings...next to trail magic. :-))I climbed Big Cedar Mountain, but I knew I wouldn't have any views today at the summit. The trees were dripping on me from all the fog being blown through.I kept walking and when I was climbing up out of Jarrard Gap, I ran in Bear, the first thru hiker I've seen today.I walked by the side trail to Woods Hole Shelter without stopping.I met another thru hiker climbing Blood Mountain. His name was John and he was heading in to Walasi Yi for the night.When I got to the summit and walked into the old stone shelter to look for the register, I saw my first trail magic!! Alpine had left some sodas there and they were nice and cold.Thank you Alpine!!! Woohoo!!!I drank a coke while I signed the register and got to use some smiley faces.I climbed up on top of the rock summit and took a couple pictures. It was so foggy that I only got the tree that was near me in the photo. It still looks nice here in the mountains when you don't have long distance views. That thick fog adds alot of character to everything near you.I walked down the mountain and got to Neels Gap at noon. When I walked in the door of Mountain Crossings Outfitter, I saw Dick Pottieger standing at the counter paying for some gear to add to his collection.He knew I was due in there about now and was hoping we would see each other before he left.Laurie Pottieger came in the store after a while and gave me a hug. I always love running into her and seeing her smiling face. :-)))Winton, Heald, Pirate and Nate were there working today. Winton has a good group of guys working at the store this year.I guess it was Cornbread and Alpine's day off because I didn't see them.I met Abandon and Bluebird who were two nobo's walking around the store looking for more stuff to buy...and carry. Ha!!!I thought about getting my Leki hiking poles fixed up a little, but I almost need one whole new pole. Wynton and Heald took a look at my Leki's and just kind of shook their heads. Winton said he'd give me a deal on a couple ultralite Leki's, so now I'm walking with new hiking poles.I walked down to the hostel and ran into 2 more nobo's by the names of Snakebit and Tortoise.I was talking to Abandon and Bluebird in the hostel. I could hear that someone was in the shower, but didn't know who it was.Just as I was leaving, Hunter sticks his head out the door to say hello.I think the last time I saw him was at the ruck just a month ago.It's great to run into so many old friends out here. You never know when your going to see someone, but it seems like I run into friends out here almost everyday. It's a great life!!!I went back and asked Winton if he could pick me up at my house on his way to work Saturday morning. (I decided that since this is the last time I'll be at my home for the next 7 months, I would take a zero) He said he would, but it was too bad I didn't stay one more day so I could go to a party Saturday night at his house.We talked about my options and decided that I would go ahead and walk from Neels Gap to Unicoi Gap on Saturday.Heald would pick me up there, so I could go to the hiker party (food!!), then just drive my truck up to Unicoi Gap on Sunday morning and take off.They would take my truck back to my house later that day and park it.I get to go to a feeding!! :-)))I had left my truck at Neels Gap the other day when Chief picked me up, so I got in it and drove into Blairsville and went to the Cookie Jar Buffet. They have really good fried chicken. :-)))I headed home and got cleaned up and spent the rest of the day getting my bounce box ready and answering email.I had one email from a friend from the '03 walk who has a bet going on with other teaches in the school he teaches at. They are alowed to have 4 people in each group and each one has to wear a pedometer for about 6 weeks. The group that totals up the most mileage wins a spa.He's mailing me the pedometer to NOC. I should be getting into my groove by then and walking a few miles each day. I should be able to help out my team with about 140 miles a week. he he...you gotta love hikers. :-)))John Galt's team is going to win this walking contest. Ha!! :-)))