Date: 2004-05-06
From: 1 mile north of winding stair gap, n.c.

To: natahala bunk house
Miles today: 26.3

i packed up my tent and started hiking and in about an hour and a half i found a nice stream and sat down and made coffee and ate breakfast. i sat on a tree that had fallen across the stream and dangled my feet in the stream while i had my coffee and ate. it was a mild night last night so i didn't zip up my sleeping bag. i could tell that it was time for a bandana bath so i filled up my washing machine/bathtub (a silnylon water bag) and proceede to do my laundry and take a bath before i hiked on. i hiked on up to the summit of wayah bald and i stretched out on the grass for about a 1/2 an hour and just enjoyed the views and the sun. i hiked by two lady day hikers and they really smelled good. usually people that are out for a day hike smell like laudry detergent and that really sticks, but these two, or at least one of them had on some nice perfume.....ahhhhhh. i hiked on to cold spring shelter and took a break and dipped my shirt and bandana in the water and put them back on to cool down. it was a pretty warm day and that feels great. i tendon above my left inside ankle started hurting and i thought, uh oh, too many miles. i took and relaced my shoe lace to miss a part that hurt and the problem went away. just as i got to wesser tower i ran into a sobo who said his name was "the lightshoe". i didn't think i heard him right and asked him again and he said "the lightshoe" and started laughing. he said he had talked to liteshoe at n.o.c. and that he knew i would be coming along soon. he said his real name is ponderer, and that liteshoe had said to check my mail real good. i hadn't planned on checking my mail until i got to hot springs, but i got to n.o.c. just after 6 pm and stuck my head in the door (even though they were closed) and asked them if they had any mail for stumpknocker. pretty soon he brought out a care package addressed to "knocker of stumps". how come everyone has such a hard time getting my name right??? well, i shouldn't complain because there was some unexpected trail magic from liteshoe.....pepperoni and bacon. there was a nice card in the package also...i liked the chick in the middle!!!   thanks. before i got here today i passed a hiker who said his name was "messy garage". i said i liked that name and he told me how he got it. he said he came home one day and his wife said that he better clean out the garage or take a hike...he said "i love you dear" and started hiking to maine. i didn't know if the restaurant would still be open when i got to n.o.c. it was open!!!! i had ministronie (sp?) and a 1/2 lb hamburger with french fries and then i ordered another 1/2 lb hamburger with fries and probably 6 sprites. well, i had planned on hiking more today, but after all that i just signed up for a bunk and stayed there. i got a shower and washed my clothes in the shower with me and then made a few phone calls to check on friends and then called liteshoe and thanked her for the care package. i talked to giftgiver in the kitchen for about 1/2 hour before going to bed. i also ran into kiwi. i wonder where he's from??? maybe new zealand. another great day on the a.t.