Date: 2004-03-31
From: Shelter

To: Hiawassee Inn
Miles today: 36.1
Weather: light rain

Friday the 26 I went back to Neels Gap and hooked up "Tree Frog" and we beganhiking about 1 PM. We hiked past Whitley Gap Shelter because it was 1.2 milesoff the trail. Hightower had left a note in the sand for tree frog to go to theshelter but we did not. He told us the next day that some trail angels broughthim beer and cornish hens for supper. I had Ramen noodles! So TF and I campedout in the woods somewhere near White Oak Stamp near 38.0 mile marker. We hikedto Blue Mountain Shelter for Sunday night. Arriving about 5 PM 48.5 on the AT. Iwas tired and climbed into the sleeping bag about 7 pm. My tent was next to thetrail into the shelter. About 8 PM in the dark someone passed by my tent headedto the shelter. Is Radar in the shelter? they asked. I said I thought so. Well,come up to the shelter if you want some pizza and coke.I got up and dressed andwent to the shelter. Kodiac and Sassy had hiked up from Unicoi Gap withpizza,cokes, Dr. Peppers, Mt. Dew, oranges,! apples and carrots. How great a thing is that. Many many thanks to you fineangels. Radar, thanks for having such good friends. But the story does not endthere.The next morning at Unicoi Gap they were there with orange juice, donuts,brownies etc to get our day of to a fine start. that day we had the tough climbup Tray Mountain.It is listed incorrectly in Wingfoots guide at 4930 ft but Ithink it is 4430 ft. We arrived at Tray Mt. Shelter about 3PM for the evening.56.2 miles. The rain started about 1 am. It rained until about 8am. I stayed dryand the tarp tent did fine. At 8 I reached for my clothes bag and found I hadhung up my clothes bag on the bear cable and kept my food bag in my pack. Thegood thing was I had a pop tart for breakfast. The bad thing was all my clotheshung up in the non-waterproof bag getting wet. I had a few things dry to hike inbut had planned to wear clean socks that day. Out of luck there. Well I gotpacked up about 9 and left. Tree Frog was still fixing his good breakfast and Ihad to leave him. I got an email from him this morning and he made it toBlueberry Patch and hooked up with Hightower again.! They plan to begin hiking at 7:45 this morning. With wet clothes and my wifehaving a birthday today I wanted to take a day of, dry clothes and call my wife.I began hiking at 9am and hiked hard until 3pm and came out at Dicks Crek Gap onUS76. It is 10 miles into Hiawassee and I had heard very little traffic on theroad so I was worried about getting a ride in. First a big log truck passed me.Then a pick up truck with a business logo on the door. I guess they are notallowed to pick up passengers. Then my next angel arrived stopped and gave me aride to the motel. She said her husband read the trailjournals and would befollowing my odyssey. Thanks so much for the ride! I stayed at the Hiawassee Innwhere Sam and Ron are doing a great job for the hikers. Nothing fance but plentyof good kindness. I had supper with lots of trail buddies and got encouragementfrom Geezer who hiked the trail in 1995. So I am now at 66.8 miles and willbegin hiking tomorrow. Soon out of Geor! gia. Geezer said Stones had to get off the trail. I never did get to meet him. I think I was running a day behind him. Must grocery shop today,getstove fuel, get rest, clothes are now clean and dry. I will try to get to thelibrary and read some journals. Thanks to you for reading my journals and forsigning my guest list. It is great to hear from all of you. If you have notsigned in yet, please do so. That is all for now.Homer AT 2004