Date: 2006-05-15
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: light rain

Today's alarm clock was dueling woodpeckers. One would fire off a bam bam bam bam, and then another would return fire. Back and forth. It's really a cool noise. I've only seen two woodpeckers so far, but hear them almost every day. Over breakfast, Skywalker endeared himself to me even more. He's sixtyish, German descent, and been in American for forty some years. He got his name flying for the Air Force back in Nam. He worked in the Aerospace industry/NASA for many years until the retirement episode. He speaks with a clipped German accent. While we were eating and then packing up, we picked up our conversation from the night before. Some favorite quotes...."I Can't believe this focking president we have, can you believe 57 focking million votes for him. Did you know the majority of Americans are focking creationists, don't they understand anything about focking sorence." There's more, and I chuckled over them all the way to Erwin. Speaking of which, it's funny how a 6.7 mile hike is now a morning stroll into town.. The first couple weeks it was all I could do to walk 8 miles a day. Speaking of which, I'm sure glad I ignored the Hiawassee Clinic doctor's advice to "rething" my hike. My knee is feeling 100 perfect. The swelling int he tendons has gone down. It will bear all my weight on the downhills, and I haven't needed ibuprofen for about 3 weeks. Got into Erwin, which back in 1916, actually hung a circus elephand from a railroad craine. Details are most likely on the internet, if you care to learn more. The first step was Uncle Johnnys, outfitters, and hostel where I bought some Aqua Mira, 40 cent snikers, and some dinners. He gave us the sell of his place. We thanked him for his hospitality and moved on. Felt it best not to mention Miss Janets, I think there's a bit of animosity between then, not 100% sure though. Let's just say he told us all about the town without once mentioning the coolest place around. We walked about a mile and scored a hitch the rest of the way to Miss Janets door. Walked in and were warmly greeted and shown around. Miss Janet has converted her house into a bunk house, crashpad, hangout for hikers. Besides Diesel and me, there's Ashtray, Nokia, Rhyme N Reason, Hobo Joe, and Trash Barrel, Carol, Livin Journey (who I met briefly at Elmers), a couple dudes in kilts, and our friends Chad, Adam, and Becka. Skywalker showed up later, he unfortunately didn't get a hitch. Roni popped in later. A party was planned for the Beauty spot in the evening, (a few miles out of town) but plans were scrapped by rain, and the late return of the booze runners.Oops. earlier Chad, Adam, Journey, and I ate at Erwin Burrito. Mmmm, I was dying for a burrito, and it was awesome. We played horseshoes for a while, and I spent quite a bit of time playing with the house dogs, Fabien, and cute lab mix puppy, Kaluha, also known as Trouble. It's nice to find dogs and cats at the hostels, they're generally very friendly. Downside, it makes me miss my Winston even more. Colleen sent a mail drop here, with so many of my favorite treats. Trizzlers, Skittles, Cheese-its, candy fruit slices, chocolate chip cookies, and cheese popcorn. And some Winston pics! Yeah. The snacks were devoured alsmost as soon as they crossed into the kitchen. Thanks Colleen, we all enjoyed them very much. As far as the party goes, we just built a fire in the backyard and did it here. Lots of story swapping, hoking around, and great comraderie. I'm digging this hiker life. Tomorrow, Janneha and I are going to do resupply and figure out how to do some miles between now and Trail Days. Maybe a bit of slack packing (using a day pack, only carrying food and water for one day, dropped off in the hills and walk back to town), or possibly just hang out here for a few more days. Her husband Anne, pronounced Ah-nah is coming over to spend his holiday here. He'll be here in a couple weeks. I tease her about losing my hiking partner. She says I can hike with both of them. I may, but after Trail Days, it's going to be time to put on some miles to get back "on scchedule" as it were. I'm not yet worried about missing Katahdin, but completing the hourney mileage wise is very important to me. Alternately, I don't want to miss out on any of these "magical" places like Elmers, Miss Janets, Trail Days, or Kincora. The more I learn about the trail from others, I find out just how many cool hangouts there are. More from Erwin tomorrow, as I'm sure it will turn into a zero or two. Peace.