Date: 2013-05-04
From: Hampton, TN

To: TN 91, Shady Valley
Miles today: 26.2

Where in the blue blazes are we? Bloodmountainman   I love the AT. I still blow kisses to every white blaze I see, acknowledging the trail, silently thanking the trail maintainers who've marked this path. Hikers are a community in a line, guided by those white rectangles.   It is so simple, right? Until it's not.       Today, I walked back to Hampton.   The loooong way. The Queen of Slack is back. 20 miles back, then 22 north tomorrow and I'll be in Damascus. Simple. Except when it's not.    I walked southbound today on a ridge top which afforded views of the beautiful Watauga valley and Watauga Lake. This area is spectacular. The valley was painted in every color of green--new leaves on the trees, farm fields, pine and rhododendron forests and spring plants bursting out all over. Magnificent.    I'd come nearly 17 miles, and expected to be back around 4ish. I wanted to spend some more time with Alex, who helps make the Braemar Castle hostel a very special place. He is the best--very kind and thoughtful and he takes good care of those who cross this way. He is a gentle soul with a huge heart.       OK, so I come to a road crossing with just three miles left. But, where is the trail on the other side? No path or steps leading back upon the other side. My guide says I'd walk on the road a bit to the Watauga Dam, but it's confusing. It doesn't seem that I'm at the road walk part, and it also indicates "sparsely blazed". Plus, I'm reading a northbound guide but traveling south. Recipe for disaster.    I finally chose to walk down the road, but in the wrong direction. I walked a long way--no blazes, nothing, but I lost a lot of elevation. I knew I'd erred but couldn't face walking all the way back up. A car came down the road and I politely asked (read: begged) for a ride back up. The couple were very nice and back up we went.    We all got out to look for the trail where I'd come out. A sign indicated the AT but we couldn't see a path toward the dam. Back into the car and we drove a bit further. Nothing. Ended up at a parking area with picnic tables. Five other folks were there and I asked them if they knew the area/AT. Now a committee of seven is helping me. OK, I don't really look like a hiker today as I have my tiny pack. I explain slack packing to a sea of blank stares. Yes, I have walked here from GA, even though I can't seem to find the trail right now. I just want my white blazes!!!       One guy was more familiar with this area and said I could go through the picnic area, take a side trail and connect to the dam crossing. I'd already walked to a observation deck, and and had seen a path. With no other ideas, off I went, thanking the peeps their help.    The trail off the picnic area went straight up. It was OK for a short bit, then just faded. I was moving towards the dam, but soon was on a steep hillside, hanging on to trees to keep from sliding down. No trail, just sorta bushwhacking and praying to the AT gods to get me back on track.    I finally saw the dam, but knew from having been at the observation area that there were some rock cliffs there. Kept inching and sliding along, grabbing anything to hang onto that hill. I got close enough to see two men standing on the dam and hollered out to them--"Can I come down there from my spot safely?" I was now in a thicket of sticker bushes and just wanted to slide down on my butt, ducking under the big thorns.    They were a bit startled, but indicated that I should keep more to one side. One of them began climbing up to give me a hand as it was very steep. I slipped and slid, with that wonderful helping hand keeping me secure until I was on the dam. I was so grateful for their help. Yep, the trail is right here, see the blazes?   Well. Yes. An adventure. And wonderful, helpful people. What more could I ask for?    I ran the last miles, happier than ever for those white blazes. In town, I hurried to get to the combo laundromat, computer store, pool hall and food counter. You have to picture this: one large room with an old sectional sofa, a row of computers (two operational), a table with lawn chairs, old desk chairs--actually any kinda chair, you name it--two washers and two dryers, one of which has its guts on the floor in front of it, a pool and foozeball table and a little food counter run by Clara. She grinds her own meat fresh and her son hand cuts the potatoes. I destroyed a hot dog, fresh slaw and a massive plate of chili cheese fries. Hikers are hanging here, making plans, catching up, comparing notes. It's the place to see and be seen. LOL      I'm up writing at night again and I'm hungry. This is the third night in a row that I've eaten in the middle of the night. Once it was my leftover pork BBQ from dinner. Then a large Rice Krispy treat. Tonight it's Little Debbie mini donuts. Clara is cooking brekky for the hikers tomorrow and I'll be there, front and center. My stomach is growling even though I'm plowing through a half bag of donuts.    This food thing is getting crazier. Today I had my regular granola and milk and a piece of bread with honey to start off. Then got OJ and 5 sausage burritos at McD's, two consumed on the spot, one at the trailhead, and the other two during the first couple hours of the hike. ( I gagged the last one down!). Plus two candy bars, a Little Debbie oatmeal thing, one and a half tortillas with Trader Joe's cookie butter and a bunch of lifesavers. Back at the hostel I ate potato chips and some cherry tomatoes that Alex was kind enough to get for me at a real store and that I shared with others.    I'm on my last donut so I'm signing off. It's all good in the world of white blazes and powdered donuts. Tie DyePS. My mileage is messed up so I'm adding some extra miles to get the correct total overall. Although, after today's fun detour, I know I walked about 23 miles. It's not about the miles, it's about the smiles, right?