Date: 2004-04-25
From: Carver's Gap

To: Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

Breakfast was off the hook this morning. Chef Ra was inspired to get up at 6:30 am and cook the house a breakfast of caramelized banana and caramelized apple french toast, bacon, and fresh fruit. It was excellent - rave reviews all around the table. We sat in the sun and ate, did our introductions and answered the question of the day ("If they were going to make a movie about your hike, who would you choose to play you and why?" I said Meg Ryan, but I don't know why. I was still a bit fuzzy and half awake and didn't have time to think of something better. The truth is that I've been thinking about that question off and on all day and would still choose Meg Ryan, and I still don't really know why.) We were shuttled to Carver's Gap in a clever attempt to aviod the strenuous climb of Roan Mountain. Roan Mountain is the last time we go above 6,000 feet before we hit Mt Washington (in NH) and it's ascent is long and steep. We figured we would enjoy hiking down the mountain more then we would hiking up it so were shuttled to a point just below the peak. We summited Roan within an hour and spent the rest of the day essentially walking downhill and smiling with ample cheer at all of the NOBO hikers trudging up it - with their packs. Slackpacking is truly easy street and the brilliant part about it is that you still technically get to say you hiked all of the white blazes. Another cloudy day kept the sun off our backs and the rain held off until we were finished with the hike, just before 6pm. Chef Ra, Van Gigh, LudaChris, and I just rolled and hiked and chatted the day away covering the 14 miles in about 6 hours.Miss Janet came to pick us up at Iron Mountain Gap around 6:30. We didn't actually head back to the hostel until 7pm or so because we were inspired to pull out her potato launcher from the van and launch potatoes, muffins, and combinations of the two into the woods using hairspray as fuel and flint as the ignition. I have no idea why it was so amusing but it was. Van Gogh topped us all by firing the launcher from between his legs and then exclaiming that he had never before shot such a big load. We all cracked up like the grade schoolers that we wish we still were. Banana rolled into the hostel last night and we had made some plans to grab some dinner tonight, which we did. Girl talk over french fries at the Huddle House and about 2 weeks worth of catch up was accomplished - useless details and all. It was great to see her again - she's doing well though her feet are still bothering her but she's still rolling on. We dished, discussed, and had our share of Oprah moments - it was much needed. Now I'm back at the hostel trying to finish up this journal despite a crew of hikers that were inspired around 11:30 pm to start ripping up the kitchen floor. I'm too stubborn to get off the internet, especially so close to being all caught up with the journal so I'm just trying to block out their ruckus and only occasionally have to roll my chair back and forth so they can rip up the floor around me. God forbid I should actually get off the computer and help. I'll get the dishes tomorrow morning to assuage my guilt.I feel better then I have been. The homesickness is at bay, though probably not entirely gone, and I'm looking forward to getting back on the trail tomorrow. Two days to Dennis Cove Rd where I get my next mail drop and slackpack for a day and then another 2 - 3 days into Damascus, the first town we reach in VA. That's truly another milestone - finally leaving NC and Tenn and hitiing up VA -I'm looking forward to it.Tired and going to bed. More from Damascus.