Date: 2003-03-23
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 10.6

I awakened in the shelter at 6:45am and started packing immediately due to the10.6 mile day ahead of me. After using the privy (the first one in 2 days!), Iheaded out at 7:30 dressed in my long johns and shorts, fleece, balaclava andgloves. It had been a cold night and the wind was still howling up on Tray Mt.As I walked, my breakfast of a Cliff bar was tasty and satisfying. Within thehour my gloves were off and by the second hour the balaclava and fleece werediscarded to the backpack.I knew that I was the first one out because I cleared the trail of the night'sspider webs. I walked alone,something that I've become very fond of, and didn'tsee another hiker for 3 hours or a little over 5 miles.I had a pre-arranged lunch stop at Addis Gap with Two Step, Wrong Way, DimpleRock and Pippy. As I arrived at my lunch destination, I could see Sheep Stuffalready there taking a much needed break. As we chatted, I removed my boots andsocks, tended my feet, took out my lunch of cheese, peanut butter and crackersand got settled in to wait for my companions.It wasn'long before the girls arrived and we were soon joined by Jersey andseveral others. in about an hour, we were ready to puah on; the infamous Kelly's Knob waswaiting for us and there was no use putting it off any longer. Up I went for amile, never stopping to rest, one foot in front of the other, breath in on myleft foot, breath out on my right. Try it, it's VERY slow going, but gets thejob done. Man-oh-man was I happy to see the end of that asent. The last fewmiles went by rather quickly. I had been thinking about the Blueberry PatchHostel all day and the bed that was waiting for me along with a big breakfastthe next day.When we arrived at Dick's Creek Gap we only needed to hitch a ride 3.5 mileswest to the hostel. If I had ever stuck my thumb out for a ride as a teen, myfather would have killed me so as I got into the old Volvo I could feel my Dadroll over in his "grave". No, I wasn't alone, I was with Two Step. In a fewshort minutes we were at the hostel and being shown around the property byowners Gary and Lennie. These 2 wonderful people grow all of their ownvegetables, do your stinky, dirty laundry, and minister to all who come throughtheir door. I decided that a zero day was in order for tomorrow to rest my"yappin' dogs".Gary dropped us off at Daniels AYCE for dinner. Great stuff! I probably atetwice what I normally would.When we were finished eating we were off to IGA for re-supply and then out tothe road to hitch back to the hostel. Two Step and I now had Nuke with us so weweren't concerned about hitching a ride after dark. Unfortunately, no-one wantedto pick us up! We walked over to the Hardees to sit and try some #s we weregiven for shuttles. One was in Atlanta on another shuttle, one had just sat downto Sunday dinner, and one didn't answer. We offered 2 girls in the parking lot$15.00 (we were desperate at this point) to take us back but one of them was afoster child and that was a big no-no, so we went back out to the road to tryour luck again. This time we were picked up after about 10 minutes by a nicefellow named Link and within minutes were back at the hostel.Bedtime arrived at 9 and I did my best to sleep but it just wasn't coming to me.I should have taken a benedryl but didn't want to get up and disturb the otherhikers.I'm here with: Dred, Footslogger (female) Chocolate Foot, Two Step, Nuke, andBram and his daughter Milo.All in all, it was a good day. I was able to do the 10.6 miles in just under2mph which may be a record out here for me. Clap, clap, clap.