Date: 2014-03-17
From: Rock Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 3.7

We got up early to take advantage of the breakfast buffet put on by a local church. The shuttle for that rolled in at 7 and we were diving into plates of pancakes and bacon by 7:15. They also provided paper and postage as well as free photos to send to family.Chef was still waiting on a package to arrive so we joined the Cali Crew and The Herd (the group Gentle Spirit had joined up with) for a 3.7 mile slackpack to Winding Stair Gap. It was nice to meet those guys after hearing about them via text, but definitely a tease knowing that we had to get back on the next shuttle back into town.We got back in and got a ride to Three Eagles Outfitters to pick up the package. Then headed over to Fatz for a burger and St. Patrick's Day beer. Key Lime, Trix, and Napoleon were getting into town that day and Key Lime had a package waiting for her as well so we picked that up for her then hit up a few other stores out there.We had a buzzed 2.5 mile walk back into town stopping at the City Hall to pick up some postcards which both of us had neglected to send any of so far. After that we ended up at Outdoor 76 where I swapped my synthetic t-shirt for a wool one having experienced firsthand the difference in smell. They have a little bar tucked away in there and Chef and I tried six of the beers on tap and picked up a variety six pack for later.We didn't have a place to stay figured out at that point and so Chef left to go back to the Budget Inn to drop stuff of in the Cali Crew's room. On my way out I ran into Trix, Key Lime, and Napoleon. We exchanged a short hello but she had to take care of some online banking stuff so I headed back to the hotel planning on catching up and finding some closure later that afternoon.Chef and I ended up wandering around Franklin even more and ended up in a pretty weird head space. We both were ready to be back on the trail, but didn't really have a way of getting back out there. We ended up getting another room for the night because it was pretty late at that point.Key Lime, Trix, and Napoleon had gone down to Mulligan's for drinks and food and Chef and I went down there intending to just get some food and then head back. By the time we got there they were already a pitcher and a few margaritas deep though and level headed talk with Trix was looking unlikely. There wasn't room with them at the bar so Chef and I got a table where Key Lime and Trix eventually joined us.Shortly after that the bar transformed into karaoke central and we were suddenly stage right directly next to one of the speakers. Conversation became even more difficult and Trix eventually left to head back to the hotel. I stayed to finish my burger and have a drink as insisted upon by Key Lime before ducking out.On the way back I ran into Trix en route to a different hotel with the intent of getting off the trail. I convinced her that wasn't the best plan, especially as she had already paid for the one at our hotel and we headed back to talk about where to go from here. After the earlier St. Patrick's Day celebrations it wasn't a very productive talk and we went to sleep having not really resolved anything.