Date: 2014-04-08
From: Erwin, TN

To: Greasy Creek Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Erwin to Greasy Creek GapDad dropped me back off at Uncle Jonny's Hostel on Tuesday and we said a swift goodbye. As he drove away Dundee walked up from town and saved me from the indignity of tears. Dundee's a good fellow. We met at Standing Bear and had a few nights in shelters together, but he's fairly quiet, so it's hard to get to know him. His name is derived from his hat... Just like Crocodile Dundee's. He does a pretty good impression ("That's not a knife. This is a knife."). We commiserated for a few minutes and then decided to hike out together at least to the first shelter. It was the fastest 5 miles I've walked so far. We got to shelter and felt so good that we decided to go another 5 and set up camp. 10 miles in just over 3 1/2 hours. Uphill. It felt good. We talked the entire time. We talked of faith, family, and trail. The people we miss and the good things that have happened to us while hiking. That dude's had some excellent trail magic. He's trying to discern if he is being called into the ministry and his hike has been defined by moments of faith. It was good to hear his stories. I try not to not to talk to much about faith or politics in this journal. Besides the fact that the forum asks writers not to make such statements I tend to try to keep my commentary minimal so as to no irritate anybody. However, the short statement is: it was wonderful to have an opportunity to talk in such a way. Whether I write about it or not there is an inescapable journey of faith that occurs along this trail- no matter what you're religious tendencies. Whatever you believe, you will contemplate it. And my faith has been at the forefront of my thoughts. How could I help it. To be surrounded by so much beauty and faced with such a physical challenge- faith and introspection are honest responses. We ended up camping at Indian Graves Gap with another hiker, Plan B. It rained over night and the temperatures dropped... And my feet, knee and legs started realizing that I had out them back into action. I twisted about in my sleeping bag for about an hour trying to get my legs to calm down. In the morning I found that in all my thrashing I had pushed the side if my sleeping bag out into the ground and the bottom half of my bag was wet. And my knee and feet were stiff and angry. It took all my resolve to get up at 8 and begin to pack up my wet gear. Dundee apparently wasn't up to the task. I could practically hear the sheepish grin through his tent wall as he begged off the morning hike. It was a foggy, gray morning and hiking up to a place called "the beauty spot" was a real disappointment. I couldn't see more than 10 feet in any direction. Cold and windy most of the day. I caught up to a few other friends, Sky and Late Start, half way through the day, but they were just beginning (at 1 pm) while I was starting to tire out.At about 14 miles I began thinking about my sleeping bag. I knew the night was going to be chilly and the thought of sleeping in all wet gear sounded deplorable... Because I'm a wuss. I pulled out my AWOL and saw that there was a hostel in about 3 miles for $15 a night about .6 off the trail. Win. Plus I could feel new blisters forming along the sides of my feet and joint pain in my left knee and both big toes. I hobbled myself there and fell into the warm and welcoming arms of Connie at the Greasy Creek Friendly. I pulled off my shoes with relish and spent the evening curled up in front of her wood stove reading a David Sedaris collection of essays. I was too tired to make much sense of it. Fell into bed at 10:30.