Date: 2011-04-18
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Uncle Johnnys Hostel
Miles today: 5.7

Nero, Nero Zero, Nero Nero, I think we finally made up our minds. Started with neroing into town staying a night then moving on in the morning. Shepherd wanted to nero zero so we voted with 5 indifferent and one zero so zeros won with one vote. But then over laundry we decided to just move on three miles tomorrow and nero.So the morning started off early waking others up except Hover and Fiber who were already up. Scared the crap out of Veto when I shaked his feet who was in the shelter. Hover Fiber and I headed out early at about 7:15. Was a fairly easy and quick 5.7 miles to Uncle Johnnys shelter where we had reservations. Check in was at 1 so we had to wait around but I jumped on the 10:00 shuttle to the P.O. and picked up my drop box I sent from Hot Springs. Then at 12:30 we took the lunch shuttle to the AYCE pizza buffet with 19 hikers. We were waiting around for pizzas that would disappear as soon as they were set out. Stuffed, I headed over to Dollar General and the IGA and picked up a few supply items.Then back at the hostel I got a shower, my first in a week. Organized some gear, sorted food and prepared for laundry. The machines were all busy for several hours so the offered to take us to dinner early and drop us off at the laundry mat first. Somewhere during this time we checked in to find they over booked, or in reality gave one space away to someone. So i am actually camped outside at a hostel. Its cheaper and probably cleaner anyways. Which is mostly the reason for moving on tomorrow anyways. So we took the diner shuttle and started laundry and went to another Dollar General and IGA to fill in the gaps from the first stores which were pretty small. Nothing special going on with food this trip as I wanted to save weight. On the way back to finish laundry I stopped at Little Ceasers and picked up a five dollar pizza for dinner and lunch tomorrow. For those ho want more to read Hover and Pappy have journals as well but different sites. Hovers is on bolgspot under fivemillionfootprints.bolgspot.com I believe, just go to blogspot and search you should find it. She uploads photos as she goes, my first will probably be up fairly soon. Pappy has a facebook page, search for Don's AT journal, I believe he has a few pictures as well. We are getting very close to Damascus now, just a little over a week to go. Shortly after that we get to the Grayson Highlands, where wild ponies roam free and aren't afraid of hikers. That will be one of the highlight points on the trail for me.Its interesting going to different spots and getting different vibes from all the others you read about. Either good or bad, although here has everything you may need it is ran as a business and nothing wrong with that at all, but the experience went south once someone had to leave the bunk house. Couldn't do laundry here which is included in the fee because of them having a que hours long. Towels where not available till late, although they do have free soap and shampoo. The bunks also don't have linens so you sleep on rubber mats with your own sleeping bag. Good thing about here is the super shuttle services around town. So today was perfect weather day being able to wake up and start in shorts and t shirt not freezing. Clouds did come in and tomorrow the weather is suppose to change for the worst though, 3 days of rain expected. We resupplied for 6 days to get us to Kincora hostel in Hampton, TN. Another trip with a lot of food and weight. Highlights this section will be going back up to 6200 ft at Roan mountain from 1700 where we are at, it is over a few days though. Also we will be staying at Overmountain shelter on day 3 which is an old converted barn. It was used in the making of some movie at one time as well.Wow it is getting late at past 11 here, going to get some good sleep tonight with a late morning I hope. Will be a while before an update again I am guessing.