Date: 2003-04-03
From: Hiawassee/Dick's Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Time to head back to the trail. Moo up & out from the Hiawassee Inn @ 8am and over to Ingle's to pick up pita, chese, pepperoni & mustard -- AT lunchtime essentials. Mission accomplished, but Moo couldn't resist a quick run into the Hardees next door for a bacon, egg & cheese biscuit -- good move b/c Moo asked for 10 jelly packs for his 1 biscuit -- came in handy during the next phase of our journey -- PB&J is much tastier than PB.Moo trying to hitch a ride the 1/2 mile or so back to the Inn -- trying to save the legs for the trail -- David, our pizza-making ride back to the Trail, pulls up and chauffers me back to the Inn. Got back, finished packing up our last few items and Moo & 42 jumped into Davids circa 1980s Toyota pickup w/ approx 300k miles on it and off we went -- the 11 miles up the road back to Dick's Creek Gap. 42 was slightly jealous about Moo's munching on the Hardees meal, but Moo had asked her if she wanted some breakfast and 42 had said nope.Enter "trail magic" -- Cindy & Paul (trail name the Roman (i.e. Ramen) noodles) -- husband & wife ER docs from Rome, GA whose son thru hiked in '97 and who plan to one day thru hike themselves, started at tradition in '98 to show up @ a gap in their Jeep Cherokee with all kinds of breakfast food -- blueberry muffins, bananas, chocolate eclairs, OJ, chocolate bars, the works -- just to dole out to hungry thru hikers. Breakfast for 42. And the magic continues -- as Moo was performing a little ER of his own on 42's blisters, Cindy came over and asked 42 if she ever wore sock liners -- no, 42 said, but I hear they work great. At that point, Cindy removed the sock liners from her own feet and presented them as a gift to 42 -- listen, she said -- you need them more than I do.We ran into the M&Ms again (Cookie, Sleepy Floyd & Flatlander) -- they had just come off the trail @ Dick's Creek and were heading to the Blueberry Patch hostel for a night. Turns out they'd come off the trail in Helen the night after the snow storm.Moo & 42 set back out on the trail on a gorgeous, sunny day -- for our 10th trail day. We felt good -- having zeroed in Hiawassee and we hit it hard. After about 5 or 6 miles, took a lunch break -- so good to have that spicy mustard for our cheese and 'roni sandwiches. Glass jar, weighing 4 oz -- but worther the weight. Many no see ums buzzing around trying to mess up our lunch -- thinking about getting 42 one of those fly net hats -- ran into Amble and Trucker (Liz from B'lynn) and back on the trail.Huge milestone ahead!! We hit the Georgia/North Carolina line @ mile 75.4 -- our 2nd state!! Very cool!! One down, 13 to go. But remember, it's not about the miles, but all about the smiles :). Chapeau was back for his border photo -- held ceremonial changing of the bandanas -- from traditional red to biker helmet red hot chili pepper lid (42 changes head gear for each state -- after all, there's not much one can do to accessorize on the AT, plus it helps you figure out where you were in the trail photos) and the gut cam photo -- despite his 4 stomachs, Moo continues to get more and more svelte.Someone, who probably laughed hard while doing it, left a big ole stinker poop just down the slope on the border -- oh wee -- high-tailed it over the line after the ceremonies were complete.BAMS = big ass mountains of North Carolina -- last 3 miles seemed to take forever -- longer than the 1st 8. Arrived @ Muskrat Creek Shelter, where we met Papa Bear (from Alabaster, Alabama), Easy Street, Wee Willy the Prince of Wales and Pirate. Wee Willy & Pirate are part of the elite blue blazing club, whose members avoid the AT's white blazes and, instead, move around the wilderness on the alternate route blue blazes -- Wee Willy explained that it's shorter that way. He then handed Moo & 42 a couple biz cards, complete with the little cut-out that allows one to clip it on a drink and says "Please don't take my drink, I've gone to pee." When Moo asked WW & Pirate how long they'd been out on the trail, they answered "about 10 years," which actually made sense in light of their ZZTop-like shaggy, long beards. Nice coupla guys.Another Lipton delight for supper -- this time cheddar broccoli -- Moo never thought he'd tire of mac & cheese or similar dishes -- but it may be happening.We opted to camp out in our tent on a nearby ridgeline, looking out on a clear night, sliver of a new moon, stars bright -- looking at the city lights of Hiawassee. Hoisted the bear food and ready for bed, when Moo discovered the Hardees jelly in another bag in the tent. Damn -- again, finding food once the bear bag is proudly hanging high. Moo up and out of the tent -- left jelly packs in our empty Nalgene (water) bottle hanging on a tree branch just outside the tent.Good night.