Date: 2017-03-28
From: No Business Knob Shelter (really, that's the name)

To: Uncle Johnny's Hostel, Erwin, Tenn. 
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Dat 24: It stormed like there was no tomorrow last night with heavy rain and intense thunder and lightning. Two trees came down with a huge crack that almost had me out of my tent and into the over crowded shelter. For a shelter named No Nonsense Shelter, there was plenty of it last night. When morning finally arrived, I made my oatmeal in my mug and had planned on making my coffee in said mug immediately following (my method of cleaning my mug...it's a hiker thing). Well, I only had enough water to fill my mug half way and the water source was two tenths of a mile back on the trail. So, I put the water in my jet boil cook stove and poured the hot liquid into my mug, used it to clean my mug and drank it... oatmeal tea... yum. Today's hike was an easy 6.1 miles to Uncle Johnny's Hostel. When I arrived to check in I asked for my mail. It was like Christmas when they came out with three boxes. Thank you Susan, Patti, and Gordon for the treats. It's difficult to describe what it means to receive a package from friends and family. A look behind the scenes of a thru hike; I've been dealing (with Annie's help) with REI. My hydration system which is made by Osprey has a plastic tab that allows it to be hung/suspended in my backpack (also made by Osprey). Well, this tab broke the first week I was on the trail. I also have a pair of REI rain pants that had the elastic drawstring break. Annie called to have replacements mailed to Uncle Johnny's. The person she spoke to said I would have to call since I was the customer? Okay, this would be difficult at best since I'm in the middle of NOWHERE. Then she informed Annie that I could carry the old defective ones with me and mail them back once I got home... really? Carry two pieces of failed equipment 2,000 miles? Anyway, my REI package was not here when I arrived. I attempted to call them but got disconnected three times...why? Because I'm in the middle of NOWHERE. Each time I'd call I'd get a different person. I'd have to give them my name, address, zip code, first child's name and political party affiliation (okay, I'm exaggerating a bit, they didn't ask for my zip code). We did finally determine that they mailed my package to the Erwin post office. Why would they do this when Annie gave them the hostel address remains a mystery. So now I can walk (I've been doing plenty of that lately) to the post office which is 1 plus hours away on foot or hitch a ride. Well as luck would have it, Jed, was getting ready to make a run to the dump. All I would have to do is help load the garbage. Jed being a good guy, takes me to the post office where my REI order is waiting. Funny thing being that the new hydration system is exactly the same except they redesigned the hang tab completely. Hmm, has this been a problem for others? I was going to launder those rain paints prior to mailing them back, but based on what I had to go through... some satisfaction is due to me. Hope they enjoy opening that Priority Mail envelope coming special delivery after three weeks in rain and mud and lots of Whistler sweat, from yours truly. Whistler