Date: 2013-05-12
From: Iron Mountain Shelter @ 4125 feet

To: Damascus - Church Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 26.1
Weather: clear sky

Getting ready to eat at only open Spot in town.Large ham & cheese hot sub & basket of FFs.More details later.   Best hot H & C I ever had. Great sandwich .The day started as usual in Tennessee on the A T. Rain @ 5 A M after a dry nite. Still raining (P I T A drizzle) @ 6 when I wanted to get up so I rolled over. Quit right before 7 so we all got up. Just 3 in the shelter which allowed plenty of room to pack up. On the trail @ 8 for what I hoped was an easier day than yesterday. At least there would be no major climbs. The trail of course was muddy (leaf litter mixed with dirt) and grass lined on both sides about 10" high. That guaranteed wet feet 10-15 minutes in. The trail was connected ridge tops with no really deep gaps and fewer rocks in the treadway than yesterday. Made great time all day.First highlight was passing the Nick Grindstaff monument. Nick traveled west to win his fortune but was ROBBED of his poke!! He then returned to Iron Mountain where he lived as a hermit for over 40 years. They erected a plaque on the chimney in 1923 after he died. Poor S O B!!Then it was on to Tenn highway 91 where the Baptist Church had a cooler of trail majic. I took a coke & cookie. Across 91 begins a handicapped assessable section thru a pasture and HERD OF COWS. And within 1/2 mile of each other a second trail majic!!!3 2012 thruhikers putting that one on. After 1 of them kept bugging me to take something, I choose the shot of wiskey (@10:30) to satisisfy the fellow. Plus a banana & another cookie. I obviously wasn't the first white man those cows have seen because bossy never flinched lying less than 4 feet from the trail. Must have been around 30 of them beef critters there. After that a climb up to McQueens Knob and more ridge top hiking. About noon I got cell service and a voicemail message from Randy, Aka, trail name Coach. He left Damascus @ 9 heading south. Randy was responsible for getting back on the trail so he could hike the southern portion and I dropped him off at mile 605 and drove his car to Hot Springs where it is waiting for him. Anyway. I knew we were close and sure enough, within a mile there came Randy up the slope. He dropped his pack and down he sat. I only carried that COKE for 10 miles to share with him and he gladly accepted. We chatted for an hour and ever hiker that passed Randy wrote in his notebook their trail names. I clues Randy in on some hikers behind me and he took a couple of notes to play some tricks on Pressure D, Rammy, & Ynot2k.Randy might come up to Maine for the last section should I make it that far. That would be cool because he is A: funny ad hell & B: slower than me.We shall see. He has to go home June 1 & will meet me at a road crossing so I can trade my sleeping bag for a fleece blanket saving 2 pounds of pack weight. After parting ways with Randy the trail was mostly downhill and pretty good into town @ 1928 feet here in Damascus, pop. 1000. Oh, the weather- turned out to be a great hiking day with quite a bit of sunshine & cool. Little sweating today. Humped the 26 miles into town in just over 8 hours - by far my fastest day yet & only 15 hours after having non power at all.Maybe it's the sharp cheddar cheese because twice now I have eaten a half a block for supper & had loads of leg power the next day!! HmmmmmmmmmCame into town and got set up at the Church Hostel (they ask for 6 dollar donation), took a shower & went for grub. And good it was.Taking a zero day tomorrow as my second pair of shoes will be here. My first pair look fine outside, but internally they are shot. The high built in arch is flat and I can feel almost all rocks thru the bottoms. Going to the library to hopefully add all my pictures to my journal. Will post tomorrow if I successful. Trail days are this weekend but I can't wait 4 days for that. The town will swell to 10-15k for the weekend. It's the biggest gear expo & trail oriented festival there is.They have a parade for all the thru hikers where everyone shoots water on each other - hikers and spectators. So I read. 3rd night in four for a warm bunk. Big miles allowed that to happen.Low 30's tonight meaning sub freezing above 4000 feet in the shelters.Hope all the Mothers out there had a HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!Hasta Ma±ana