Date: 2014-02-25
From: Big Spring

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: overcast clouds

This was the 1st opportunity that I actually had time to sit down and read all the messages in my "guest book". I am amazed that I have had almost 17,000 hits on my blog, so I want to take this time to thank all of you for the kind words and encouragement. Love reading them! Also, thank you for the messages on Facebook, Class of 2014 AT page, the text, and e-mails. Very much appreciated. Even the negative ones. Another great sleep tonight! Guess I'm getting used to it. Packed up early and hit the trail around 8:30.People ask, "What do you think about on the trail?" The trail is usually wide enough just for a single person, so even if someone is hiking with you they are either 50 yards in front or 50 yards behind at the closest. So 95% of the time is just you and your thoughts. This can drive people batty and have heard that it will make people quit the trail. In my line of work I'm walking alone for the most part anyway so I'm sort of used to it. However your thoughts can get offline a bit and you have to redirect. It can go kinda sideways. Today my thoughts went to baseball. Mostly thinking of the history of it, how most times the best most dominate team doesn't really always win the World Series. I thought of the 1988 Dodgers lineup and how in the world it could even compete with the Athletics stout players. This went on for about 2 hours, and an example of thoughts just coming out of nowhere. For the most part, you think about your past achievements, successes, and failures of your life, as it pertains to business, finances, friends, and of course relationships of the female kind. In turn the thoughts will revert to the future and the plans and hopes you have. Then every once in awhile you think about the present. How steep is the next climb?, where is the next water spring?, where am I gonna sleep tonight?, is that a bear over there?, do I have enough toilet paper to make the next resupply? But mostly what hikers think about is this.....FOOD! Not the stuff we carry in our packs for survival, I'm talking pizza, burgers, ice cream, soft drinks, pancakes, fresh coffee. Stuff that I took for granted 2 weeks ago, very quickly turns into a luxury. To be honest, in the grand scheme of things.....those things really ARE a luxury.Made it to Winding Stair Gap about 1pm and that means one thing... Franklin, NC and a zero! Of course as soon as I come to US64 out of the woods, there was Bayou. I see him everywhere. Again he is not hiking, just supporting Sunset on his "warm-up" hike. Bayou sleeps in his 1990 something Ford Aerostar van, set up with a tv, refrigerator, and a microwave. He hands me a cold Coors Light as I get on the phone and call Ron Haven for a ride into town about 10 miles away. Ron is a well known trail angel who has 3 hotels for hikers. 2 here in Franklin, and one in Hiawassee. He picks me up in his "Scott Carter look-a-like" Suburban, and talks the whole way. I might have said 3 words, but I now know every place his sons have been over the last 5 years. Mr. Haven is a great guy and a must call when coming to Franklin.I had packages waiting for me at the Budget Inn, but he doesn't open that hotel till the 1st of March. We stop in there to pick up 3 packages, and head to his other hotel the Sapphire Inn. Tip..... Pay cash, it's cheaper. lol. I get a key and head to room 14 and rip open my care package that my awesome friend Angela sent. As seen in the pic, Homemade banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, Dark chocolate bar with sea salt, (My favorite) and a package of peppered jerky. Yummy! Ate 5 cookies and a big slice of bread within seconds. Thank you Angela! Also my scheduled package from my dad with some more Mountain House dinners, and snacks, along with much needed Vitamin I. I did have him ship my laptop, and I was gonna bounce it to future towns along the trail, but I think that is gonna be more of a hassle than it's worth. So I'll probably send it back home tomorrow. Oh well. Worth a thought.I ordered a pizza from Pizza Hut along with 8 crispy, bone-in garlic parmesan wings. Completely devoured that and headed to the dollar store across the street for minor things. On my way back I see Bayou's POS van at the hotel and Sunset inside his room eating a hotdog. I bang on the window and came in. They gave me a Natural Light (Ya, I know, fancy beers they have)and we sit around and BS awhile. Sunset is unfortunately gonna jump trail at the N.O.C in about 2 days and head home to prepare for the CDT. Gonna miss that guy. A good guy to know on the trail.Taking the day off tomorrow. I'm gonna rest and enjoy the creature comforts of a real bed and a shower.Song of the day, A Country of My Own -Thad CockrellNo movie today, just baseball.