Date: 2009-01-13
From: Franklin, NC

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

ZERO DAY!Much needed by Swamp Fox. A good night's sleep, a liter of Gator Aid, and TLC by three nurses (Rocky, Double Healer and his wife Susan) and I am a lot better this afternoon. Still feeling a little weak in the legs, but I should be good to go tomorrow to get back on the Trail at Standing Indian Gap. We have about a three or four mile hike on a side side to get back to the Appalachian Trail.We didn't get up at first light as we have on the trail. We relaxed and then did zero day things: like food shopping, photo printing, post office to get rid of unneeded items, and preparing food drops. Rocky and Double Healer are delivering food drops as I enter these notes to NOC and Hike Inn in Fontana. We will hiking for four days back to Franklin and then enjoy another night with Double Healer and Susan. Then Double Healer will hike out with us towards NOC, Fontana, through the Smokies, and on to Hot Springs. His wife Susan will pick him up there with yet another food drop for us. Double Healer is a very experienced hiker and past thru hiker. We are grateful that he will be with us through the Smokies.Some more Gear Notes:We have been using a MSR Whisper Lite stove instead of the tiny Super Fly cannister stove we prefer. The Super Fly is about a third of the weight and far less bulky and much easier and quicker to operate. However, we have been forewarned that that cannister stoves, using isobutane, are not reliable at cold temperatures. So we will continue with the Whisper Lite, at least until Hot Springs. The Whisper Lite operates on Coleman fuel (white gas) and can be an adventure to start up. However, thus far I have not burned down any shelters. Two nights ago when I was feeling pretty worthless, Rocky tried to cook by our back up "Pepsi can" alcohol stove. It took forever in the cold, and consumed about 8 ounces of fuel. So much for that experiement.How we Hike:Some hiker couples walk separately during the day. They meet at breaks, at lunch, and at the night time stop. We walk together virtually the entire day. Rocky has always led. I try to stay six feet behind. That way she can hear my jokes (always bad and old), listen to my pontifications about anything under the sun, and occassionally listen to me singing. We have some favorites: "Country Roads", by John Denver, "Annie's Song" (I renamed it "Rocky's Song"), also by John Denver, and "Moon River", which is kind of an unofficial theme song for us ("two drifters off to see the world"). Some times when we get close to the day's destination I will go on ahead to start the camp chores, like setting up the tent and getting water. When Rocky gets to camp I have learned to let her sit or talk to other hikers, before bothering her with details like unpacking for the night and starting dinner. Anyway it seems to work for us after about 2500 miles on various trails.Once again, I want to thank everyone who has signed our guest book and emailed us. Your encouragement and interest has been gratifying. I was really down in the dumps yesterday as we staggered off the trail. I questioned my ability to keep going. Your emails, along with Rocky's never ending resolve, perked me up enormously.Swamp Fox