Date: 2003-03-25
From: Franklin NC

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: clear sky

Day 12 I AM LOVING IT!Weather: Perfect-Sunny High 60's BreezeI'll begin with where I left off yesterday. I left the library and walked back to my room (1/2 mile) Who do I pass going the other way across the 4 lane highway? You guessed it, Goldberry! She yells something and I wave. After stopping by my room, I get a Heath blizzard at the Dairy Queen and head for the 3 Eagles Outfitter where another thru-hiker, F8 (Fate) is sitting on the porch. We chat and he gives me a bottle of alcohol for my stove. I buy a freeze dried beef & mashed potatoe dinner and head for the grocery where I spend $14 on food. Later, Dag & Mag, Mule & Driver, Border Riever and I eat at this awesome bar-b-q called Fat Buddies. I had the best pork ribs I've ever had! After which, we all head to the DQ for root beer floats and such. Wrapped up a perfect zero day in town. I would recommend Hikers stop in Franklin..a friendly place with good food and services. I slept about 80%...best in awhile.Okay, today was an awesome hike! George, a local volunteer whose two sons have hiked the Trail, picked me and another hiker (Cool Foot) up and the Microtel and took us to the Trail.. Winding Stair Gap where I left off. Thanks again George! I'm hiking at 7:45 and am by myself all morning. The sky is blue, the Trail is great and I am loving it! I'm thinking the decision to retire and hike the Trail was the 2nd best decision I've ever made; right behind asking Julia to marry me. At about 9:45 I stop at the Wayah Bald picnic area for a morning snack. As I am going back on the Trail 2 Forrest Service workers stop to tell me not to be concerned if I see smoke as they are going out to do a "controlled burn."Around 11 or so I meet this guy walking towards me on the Trail. He obviously is not a hiker as he has on a kahki outfit. He introduces himself as "Apple," a trail angel. He inquires about others I know of that might be on the Trail. He tells me about some "trail magic" and invites me to stop by down the Trail a piece. He goes on ahead on a shortcut forrest service road. A little later I get there and stop for a chat and some "magic." I'm telling you this guy is something else! He has two large tents set up. One specifically to house hikers who want to get out of the weather and spend the night. In the other tent, which can also be used as a shelter, he has all kinds of "kitchen equipment." He has chairs to lounge in and coolers full of cold drinks. I have coffee, a hot sweet roll and a coke to start out. I spend a half hour or so and am about ready to leave when along comes Mule & Driver followed by Mag & Dag and Border Riever. We get to talking and joking around and we all stay for hot dogs and cokes. Meanwhile, knowing Goldberry will be along soon, I'm trying to get Apple to stall her when she arrives and slip her a laxative. Of course he has too much integrity...but did seem to be willing to help me out. I was beginning to wonder if he wasn't a "plant" by Goldberry, paid to stall me so she could catch up and pass. I'm there about an hour now and the next thing I know there she comes trudging towards us on the Trail. I immediately drop everything and run to put my pack on to hit the Trail. Dag throws a body block and tackles me to the ground. Mule & Driver hold me down. And I thought these guys were my "trail buddies!" Why does everyone always side with the woman? Everyone is laughing and I give up. Goldberry comes over to shake hands for a picture op but tries to get on the right or NOBO side. I won't let her so the "handshake" never takes place. We talk for awhile and she tells me that she has to slow down to time her hike to meet her parents. Obviously, a ploy to try to trick me into complacency! She has probably hired actors to play the role of her parents! I can't let Goldberry beat me to Katahdin! We have over 2000 miles to go. It will be a long fight!Anyway, I am the first to leave and I hit the Trail running. Before I go on I must again thank Apple. He's more like a "Trail God!"I hike alone and reach Copper Ridge Bald Lokout. The views are awesome! Next is Cold Spring Shelter, my planned stop, at 3:30 or so. Already in the shelter are Fido Dido and a hiker named Brace. I called him Gabby Hayes cause he looks just like him. Also, stopping for water is Melisa (Remember Melisa & Rog) and a section hiker she was with named John (no trail name). They talk me into going on since there are no good tent sites here and there is supposed to be water two miles further down the Trail. we never saw the water and had to keep on hiking to the Wesser Bald Shelter which was 6 miles past the planned stop of Cold Springs! We had all started from Franklin and put in a 21 mile day. We ended up cooking in the dark. Thanks to some section hikers there was a campfire which we enjoyed. I have to tell you about this guy, John. He is a Phd from my alma mater, Kent State. We kind of hit it off and for the 6 miles, tried to see who could insult the other the most. I think he won but I found him hilarious and I really enjoyed hiking with him and Melissa. If you read this John, I wish you only the best! Melissa helped the extra miles too by singing this song about Canada being the largest country. It was hilarious! We really had a great hike together.Thought for the day: Awesome!