Date: 2008-03-28
From: Stealth campsite

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: light rain

You know you're in the Southern Bible belt when you enter your hotel room and the Bible is open and sitting on top of the dresser instead of hidden safely (and dusty) in the drawer below.I'm at the Fontana Lodge, sharing a room with Leaping Turtle to cut costs. I came down from the mountain about 1:30 to find a cooler full of beer and soda, and oreo cookies sitting across the trail. I drank a coke, thankyouverymuch. This was all provided by a 2006 thru-hiker, Ox. I sat in the marina parking lot for about an hour, chatting with other hikers. Eventually Leaping Turtle came down the hill, and even more eventually Bronco came and gaves us a ride to the village! It seems like every time we're in a pinch Bronco comes along with his characteristic big smile and gives us a ride (THANK YOU!). He sure was busy today, though, driving hikers here and there.I made it to the post office and found several packages. I was only four days later than my ETA. Thank you to everyone who sent me something--Casey, the food was oh-so-practical. I now have enough to make it through the Smokies. Liz and Emily--I about died laughing when I opened up your treasure trove. But I did use the soap and have been wearing the beads and bracelet all day. I think the other hikers are jealous. Janice--I dropped the card on the P.O. floor as I was trying to make it out the door and it started singing before I even opened it up. It was pretty funny.I even checked my e-mail. I've been accepted to Florida State University library program. I'll wait to see if I got in anywhere else.All day I thought Pops and Brush Strokes were coming in tomorrow, but they pulled the 12.7 (although they called it 13.5 ) to get to Fontana Dam today. Leaping Turtle and I went to dinner and sat down with Auntie Mame, V8, Bananas, Barley, and Rain even though they had already ordered. We placed our orders and were looking in the drinks/dessert menu where we saw that they offered Blue Moon in bottles. I said, "too bad Pops isn't here to drink that!" Bananas said, "they're around, I saw them today." At that moment Pops and Brush walked through the door and sat down with us! It was a great little reunion.For dinner I had a New York strip steak medium rare with garlic mashed potatoes and baby spinache, a Blue Moon with an orange slice, a roll, and a chocolate lava cake. It was expensive ($34.00!!!), but it was worth it. I ate so much. I ate half of my dessert but left the other half on the plate, as it was so rich...but then Marko came by and ate it in 2 bites.During dinner we were STILL talking about Ass Rammer Ridge. Any time anybody says "the hill" everybody knows what they're talking about. Future hikers--don't worry about the climb out of the NOC. Worry about the climb out of Stecoah Gap! And don't say I didn't warn you.A note about yesterday's spooky camping. After I finished writing and I was reading my book, I paused because I heard voices and whiltles. My body grew rigid. I turned off my headlamp so people could not pinpoint my location. I noticed headlamps pointed my way. I slipped out of my hammock, and held my little knife in hand. There was nothing out, but I could see the lights moving away in the distance. Today I learned that the night-hikers were a search and rescue crew in training. They're practicing locating missing persons.This morning I learned that country music has a whole 'nother feel when you're crouching alone in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina."I'll probably be up all night cleaning this gun"--random country song.