Date: 2013-03-30
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Blueberry Patch, Hiawasee
Miles today: 6.3

I started hiking with the last 3 people of the group who were mostly faster than me. I soon lost them as we started up Kelly's Knob. Why is it that the mountain with my name is incredibly difficult? My hips started hurting as soon as I started going up so I slowed way down. Once I got up a little ways, I could see the sunrise. The sun had already risen but the clouds were parting and it was inspiring. Thanks God for the encouragement! I tried to keep a smile on my face and a prayer in my heart as I continued climbing but all I wanted to was sit down and cry. I was going about 5 steps and stopping for 60+ seconds. At this rate, I was never going to make it in time and my friends might leave me. But slow and steady wins the race and soon I was descending. A few people passed me and I passed several going the opposite direction that said it was only a little more ways and all downhill. One thing I've learned on the AT is to never trust anyone's calculation on how far away something is (miles or minutes) They're always wrong. It's better to consult a map. As I was coming down a rather clear section, I started jogging. Actually, my feet were moving so fast and I was pretty much in a controlled freefall that I just bent my knees a little more and I was jogging. It felt much better on my hips and joints. Soon I heard cars which meant I was nearing Dicks Creek Gap! I crossed the road and all my friends were still there, cheering me across the road. It was only 10:30 and there was a guy with snacks and drinks. I dropped my pack and grabbed a poptart and a few starbursts. Yumm. After awhile, he offered me, Gumby and Sunshine a ride as we were going to someplace different than the rest of our group. I was the only one headed to Blueberry Patch Hostel while the others wanted more luxurious stays in hotels. Blueberry Patch is a Christian ministry to the hikers and my experience so far has been amaaaazing. It holds 10 in bunks, they do your laundry and there's showers and a bathroom out back. They have 2 donkeys and several goats. I grabbed a bottom bunk and layed all my stuff out. The shower felt real good and I soon had clean clothes, that I hung out to dry on the clothesline. It tooooootally wasn't awkward hanging my underwear and bra up for everyone to see...But soon the sun came out and I unpacked my tent, layed it out to dry. Then I took my sleeping pad and bag and layed them out. And of course, being from a beach area, I layed out too! Another lady hiker took a picture of me laying out because she thought I was funny. I went out to a pizza buffet for dinner with Collin & Katie, and Tommy. We all didn't eat too too much. We went to Ingles for our resupply and a week's worth of food for me only cost $25. I stayed up late, til 9:30 at night! Out on the trail, bedtime is when the sun goes down. I slept great, all warm and on a soft mattress pad. Gary and Lennie, (the Blueberry Patch owners) made breakfast in the morning at 8:30. It was an awesome spread of cheesy biscuits, hashbrowns, eggs, sausage, pancakes and blueberry syrup. It was nice to hear Gary pray and Apostle Paul tell his story about biking and giving back. As much as I love being on the trail and around like-minded people, I sure miss Christian community and just wholesome Godly talk. Breakfast ended and Gary took a few people back on up the Trail. I went with a few other hikers to Gary and Lennie's church, Macedonia Baptist Church. Ahh, I miss worshiping with others. It was nice seeing people all dressed up in their Easter dresses, reminded me of when I was little. (I did get to buy a Cadbury creme egg at Ingles and ate it after breakfast...Mmm)