Date: 2005-03-23
From: Winding Stair Gap (Franklin NC)

To: Silar Bald Shelter
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: light rain

DAY 12Today turned out to be a beautiful day. My attitude is totally different from yesterday. I am going to continue and I believe my days of doubting myself are over. This morning I considered taking a Zero Day in Franklin, because I am now two days ahead of the tentative schedule I made up for myself before leaving for the Trail. However, I resolved never to take that tentative schedule too seriously. This morning I had a great and inexpensive breakfast at a little diner down the street from the Motel. I went to a nearby Ingles grocery store to pick up a few items to carry me to my next resupply at Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), which is three days away. I only spent $11 and at the check out I had a problem with my credit card. The clerk tried all kinds of things to get my card to work. Eventually she called the manager for help. These kind people spent all kinds of time and effort for me for only an $11 purchase. Eventually they got my credit card to work. Other hikers are staying at the Franklin Motel as well. I chatted with Vitaman and Tim, who must have come in yesterday after I did. I enjoyed a chat with ¢Kutza¢, an Israeli woman. She is hiking with her husband, ¢Montreal¢. She has previously hiked the Trail, and she told me of the difficulties she had in the White Mountains. Like me she is ¢elevation challenged¢. I have that to look forward to later on the Trail.I decided against taking a Zero Day. It is too nice a hiking day to waste. The ever-friendly motel clerk gave a list of Trail Angels who did shuttling to the Trail. The third person I called answered. Her name was Kathy and she came to the motel fairly soon and took me back to the Trail at Winding Stair Gap. By this time in my Trail experience, I am completely blown away by the kindness and generosity of Trail Angels and other people I am meeting on the Trail. This is a different world from the one I left behind less than two weeks ago. My last working day was March 9, 2005, just three days before the start of my hike. I left behind the dog-eat-dog world of business, the competitiveness, and the everyone-for-himself attitude of the outside world. I am now in a world where people support and encourage each other. I am in a world where absolute strangers help with whatever they have. Nothing is going to take me off the Trail, as long as I am physically able, no matter what the pain and discomfort.I enjoyed talking with my Trail Angel, Kathy, on the way back to the Trail. She is thinking of writing a book about the Trail from the view point of the Trail Angel. I told her I would love to buy a copy someday. I was sorry to say goodbye to her and I hugged her as I resumed my hike. There is a lot of hugging on the Trail!As it was about noon, I only planned to go to the next shelter Siler Bald, a short distance of 3.7 miles. Enroute to the shelter I was passed by Spartacus and Rainbow. Spartacus has gotten over his physical problems. This young couple has adapted well to the Trail after a slow beginning. I am disappointed that they are going beyond Siler Bald Shelter tonight, as I would have enjoyed their company.Siler Bald Shelter is 0.6 mile off the Appalachian Trail. As a result many hikers bypass it. When I got to the shelter in early afternoon, not surprisingly no one was here. I was resigned to spending this night alone in the shelter. However, late in the afternoon I was happy to see Cory and Yardsale come into the shelter for the night. It is great to have these two nice young men share the shelter with me. They are in their early twenties, but I¢m starting to think we are all about the same age on the Trail.Life is Good on the Appalachian Trail!