Date: 2016-04-28
From: Newfound Gap/Gatlinburg

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

4/28 - Day Twenty OneWe rolled out of bed early and discovered the calls for rain were unfounded, which means we would do a quick supply and get to the trail heady on the 10 am shuttle from the NOC.The NOC is basically and outdoor store like REI. There is one in Gatlinburg and they run a free hiker shuttle as Gatlinburg is 15 miles from the heady.Mayfly and I went to the world's most expensive general store to resupply. Chicken Little was in there and he was shaking off a bit of a moonshine hangover and resupplying (in that order).Resupplies at this stage of the game are critical ... Hiker hunger has kicked in. In fact Mayfly and I ate last night with Justin and Chicken Little and on the way home we stopped and bought a pizza! Now...we only ate half of the pie. I ate the other half before I showered this morning.Now back to the general store... The trick is calories. Think honey buns with "ice glazing". What to these things even exist??? 500 calories in one. I bought four.On the way out we bought egg and ham sandwhiches cooked while we waited. Mayfly and I each bought two. I figured I would eat them on the shuttle.We were lucky to catch the 10 am shuttle...as we snagged seats when Nilla was a no show (evidently there is a list). As it turns out she snagged a ride with a trail angel! Nila, is from Padre Island, TexasOn the shuttle was Frolic and Lee, Day Glow and Heather, another couple (can't recall their names), Chicken Little, Mayfly, Mozy and Me.The shuttle was cramped so I decided to eat at the heady.... and I was happy I did as the local Baptist church has trail magic going on which included about everything I just paid 2x fit in the general store in Gatlinburg. Plus fruit!! I ate two bananas, drank a Mountain Dew and grabbed another heart attic wrapped in plastic (honey bun). With that I stashed my egg sandwhiches in my pack for later.The laugh of the day came as we were about to get on the trail. There is a sign at the heady that says..."Mt. Katadin, Maine 1,796 miles". We were all taking turns getting our pictures by it when a bus load of tourists came up. One gentlemen looked at the sign and said to us... Wow, do you think anyone has ever really done it? We all laughed and tried to explain that yes... Many people do it every year.With that we bolted. The first shelter was 3 miles. Since hikers have to camp in or by shelters our next choice would be Peck's Corner Shelter (which would make for a 10 mile hike today).Chicken Little planned to hold tight at the first shelter as the free moonshine samples from the day before were ending up costing him. When we got there I convinced him to hike with us to Peck's as Mayfly, Nila, Mozy and myself were marching on (but only after I inhaled one egg sandwhich).Just as we were leaving a big group of very nice hikers came to the shelter. It appeared they were in some type of organized club? They started asking us questions and then starting giving me all their unneeded food (they were heading south to the heady). They gave me string cheese, a Cliff Bar, Apple, Doritoes and breakfast bars. I guess because I was the chatty one I was getting all the loot, but I passed most of it on. I did eat the string cheese and Doritoes.The hike to Peck's was a crap out. Not the hardest walk, but not easy either. We all stopped and took in the view at Charlie's Bunion.We all staggered into Peck's Shelter after 5 pm.... Mayfly, Mozy, Nila and Chicken Little. We were all tired and thirsty! Not much water on this stretch!As we ate Justin strolled in. I had figured he was staying in Gatlinburg to try to sell his skates. As it turns out there were no takers and he still has them (although he ditched the WD 40).At dark Special K strolled in (her mom dropped her off at the heady after we embarked). She said she saw Magic Man but lost him? As we chatted by a small fire Magic Man limbed in. He bought new shoes at the NOC and intended to go 3 miles to the first shelter and break them in. Well... He missed a turn and ended up going a round trip 10 miles down the wrong trail!!! Somehow he ended up at Pecks which (with the detour) made for a 21 mile day on new shoes.He looked tired. I had not seen him in days. I told him it was good to see him and then pointed him to the shelter which still had space.I had no reception last night so I had to post this today. Today's post is exciting... Stay tuned