Date: 2013-03-08
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Hiawasee
Miles today: 6.3

"It's not about the miles, it's about the smiles." (Popular A.T. saying)Hoosier and I slept better last night as the temperature only dropped into the upper 20's. In the morning we quickly packed up and were on the trail hiking early. Our pre-trail plan had been to make oatmeal and a hot drink for breakfast each morning. The reality has been that with the cold temperatures we would rather eat a breakfast bar as we generate some body heat by hiking.We warmed up quickly as we ascended 940 feet to Kelly's Knob (4,276 feet) and then went over two smaller knobs before reaching our early destination where the AT crosses Highway 76 about 8 miles from Hiawasee. It was our pre-trip plan to re-supply in Hiawasee and stay at the Blueberry Patch Hostel. But first we had to hitch-hike into town. It took 30 minutes to get a ride, as traffic was scarce. Then we had the treat of being picked up by a Priest from New Zealand, who was here on a year-long exchange program. He teaches in a Catholic High School in Atlanta. He said he never picks up hitch-hikers and we told him we never hitch-hike except as part of our journey on the Appalachian Trail. The conversation was lively as we were fascinated by him, and likewise he was very interested in our journey and had lots of questions. Hoosier and I had heard a lot of good things about The Blueberry Patch Hiker Hostel and were really looking forward to our stay there. The "Thru-hiker's Companion 2013" describes it as "a Christian ministry owned by 1991 thru-hiker Gary Poteat and his wife Lennie. The hostel remains open by generosity of hiker donations. Includes shower, laundry service, breakfast, and shuttle back to the trail at 9:30am." We were greeted warmly by Gary upon our arrival at the Hostel. Gary thru-hiked the AT with his son in 1991 and it was during that trip that he felt called into this ministry of hospitality. He actually bought and moved to this place, a year after summiting Mt. Katahdin. He understands from experience the needs of hikers. Soon I was able to enjoy a hot shower, and Gary took all my dirty clothes into his home and washed and dried them before returning. They do this for all their hiking guests and have a box full of clothes that you can wear while they are washing yours since most hikers only carry one pair of pants and need to have everything they have with them deodorized and cleaned. The hostel is a separate building that is next to the Poteat's personal home. The hostel has a small kitchen with a large table and then a room with two three-tiered bunk beds and one double bed sized bunk bed. Nine hikers are staying here tonight. In the afternoon, Gary took Hoosier, Woodrow, and I into town where we ate and ate at an all-you-can eat buffet, re-supplied for the next week at a food store, and sat and visited at a Starbucks. Woodrow is in his mid 20's and in great shape. He recently returned from Italy where he trained as a culinary Chef. He is thru-hiking the AT before returning home to open his own specialty pizza restaurant in New York. It was neat that he wanted to spend the afternoon hanging out with Hoosier and me.The town of Hiawasee is very hiker-friendly. I received some special "trail magic" from a shop-keeper at a outfitters store. She showed southern kindness as she steered me away from a $35 dollar purchase I was going to make to something that would do the trick even better but cost only around $5. It has been a "people day", which makes it a good day.