Date: 2015-04-12
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Hilton Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: clear sky

There haven't been that many times yet on this trip where I really questioned my sanity about embarking on this adventure. But as I was heading north uphill from Cable Gap shelter sucking tuna salad I got at the trail magic picnic yesterday out of a foil pouch at 9:30 AM, while saying goodbye to a guy named Cast Away, I did feel a little nuts...This morning I enjoyed the rising sun as I headed to the Fontana "Hilton" shelter which is very large and has a bathroom with real flushing toilets and a hot shower nearby. As showers are expected for the rest of the week (which will be a bummer for views in the Smokies), I wanted to take a look at the dam (which is awesome) in the good weather. It is gorgeous here. I walked to the visitor center in my flip-flops (which are now shot). They did not have WiFi as I was expecting but let me call the lodge to see if my shoes had arrived. They hadn't, but my other mail drop of food and supplies was there. It was still early so I decided to walk the three miles into town. I picked up my HUGE box and was treated to lunch by a couple of alcoholic gentlemen at the bar (they were very kind), and was grateful that Twister and Hobble (who later let me use their hot shower and a clean, fluffy towel) arrived to keep an eye on my strange company. Soon other hikers arrived for lunch as well, including BonBon and Liam, who attaches two Platypus water bottles to his front every day and is stubbornly resisting the trail name "Jugs".I took the shuttle back to the shelter, as I was unwilling to walk with my 17 pound resupply box. Also, I promised a particular someone that I wouldn't hitchhike...I spread out and sorted through the contents of my box on the shelter floor. It took quite a while. Everyone in the shelter was keen to exclaim at the monstrous amount of food. The thing is, I can TOTALLY eat all of it. I am always hungry now.My pack is WAY too heavy and I have way too many luxury items (deodorant, tablet, etc.). I have too much food (especially since I keep hitting trail magic) and too many clothes (I hope to send some more home after the Smokeys). I like having a change of clean clothes to wear for sleeping. I picked out a few items I can send home to save weight and discovered that I now have TWO knives. I didn't lose Dan's after all! This made me feel better because I do try to be careful with my things. But then I was sad... someone else is missing their knife now Tomorrow my back will ache under all the weight but I will cut down to carrying two liters of water for a couple days until I eat through some of my food supply. I received one of the greatest gifts of my journey so far in this box: a bit of money and a note from Dan telling me to "have a pizza or something good". I could have cried. So far on this trip there are a few things that I cannot get enough of: showers (NOT rain showers), fresh produce, and PIZZA. I ALWAYS seem to be craving pizza. I believe there is a restaurant about halfway through the Smokeys and I anxiously anticipate the hot meal I can now buy myself there!The shelter is loud tonight and the snoring has already started. I am up a bit late as I know I cannot get my shoes until 11:45 at the very earliest, as that is when the post office opens. I am starting to think I might need gel insole things for the balls of my feet... I think they need something to absorb shock. This seems to be a bigger problem than pinched toes. I think the impact on the balls of my feet is making them sore and pinches nerves which makes them swell and then they end up squished. Of course this is all speculation.There is another hiker trying to convince me to take a zero tomorrow to spend in town with him for his birthday. I feel bad but just took a zero and really want to push on. I am still hoping I can at least catch the last afternoon of trail days. I also know that it might be very slow going through the Smokies in the rain. Also. He invited me to sleep in his tent to avoid the noisy and crowded shelter and I am definitely not looking for any of that. I plan on heading to the lodge in the morning as Twister promised that I could use their shower again. Then I will walk to the post office when it opens. Then if my shoes are there, it is off to the Smokies!I do not expect to have phone service for a while but will update when I can. I am grateful for pizza money and beautiful weather. I am glad that the forecast for the week is only rain and not snow. I am also glad for lots of advice, although much of it I do not plan to follow (people are telling me to stop wearing panties. I am not comfortable with that idea yet). Also for my full food bag. It might break my back but I am happier over-prepared than under-prepared.