Date: 2006-05-04
From: Campsite @ mile 395.9

To: Dennis Cove (Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 13.4

Got up and started moving early around camp trying to make it to Kincora Hostel at Dennis Cove by this evening. It was pretty easy to get out of camp since we all camped at some random spot last night away from a shelter. At times it can be difficult to get moving when there are a lot of other hikers to hang out with and talk to in the mornings while at a shelter. Other than a few nice streams and a waterfall or two the hike wasn¢t very exciting over to Dennis Cove. Along the way we stopped at Moreland Gap Shelter for lunch and while there I took off down to the creek to pump some water and left Roxy tied up to my pack. When she noticed that I was gone her nose hit the ground and she started tracking me. I only had about 40 feet of cord to tie her up with so when the line got taught you guessed it she started dragging my pack with her. Luckily Shasta was sitting by my pack and grabbed a hold of it before she could drag it off too far. When I returned from the stream Roxy was glad to see me and that is when I realized she had already gotten attached to me. As we got back on the trail she played like an old stubborn hound dog because as we hiked she started to get tired. Her first action was to stop and just lay down right in the middle of the trail. I felt a little sympathy for her so I stopped as well and waited on her. Well after the fourth or fifth time stopping within a mile or so I attempted to carry her just so I could continue on hiking. If the 35-40 pound pack wasn¢t enough she pushed me over the limit. I just couldn¢t carry everything in my pack and her too. At this point I removed her leash (the 3mm cord and bandana) and told her she could either follow me of be free because I just couldn¢t wait on her much longer. As I began to walk away she continued to lie in the middle of the trail and watch me go. Just as I turned the corner and got out of sight I stopped to take a peek back at her. At this point her ears were all perked up and she shot up off the ground and took off after me. From this point on for the rest of the day into Kincora she remained off her leash and by my side. When Roxy and I got to Dennis Cove road we took a left and headed up toward Kincora. The walk was only a short distance and it felt rather nice to be walking on a flat surface. Just up the road I could see the mailbox for the hostel and across the top it read ¢Kincora¢. I walked up to the front porch and the next thing I knew there were dogs barking like crazy at Roxy. By this time I had put her back on her leash and she was scared to death of all the noise. Bob the owner of Kincora walked out on the front porch of the little log cabin and said ¢there is a place out back by the wood pile if you would like to tie your dog up for the night. I shed my pack and headed directly back there trying to calm her down just a bit. After getting things squared away with Roxy I returned to the front porch and started to notice what a cool place Kincora was. There already a ton of hikers there and a few more were expected to follow us in for the night. Since it was so crowded Jangles, Baro, and Gringo decided to stay just down the road at another hostel called Laurel Fork. I decided since I had Roxy settled for the night I would just stay at Kincora and hang out with the crowd. After a shower and getting everything squared away Bob took a count of everyone that wanted a ride into town and told us to load up inside his truck. With six in the front and ten or so in the back we headed down the mountain on an old winding and curvy road into Hampton, TN. First several of us hit Arbys for a quick bit to eat and then re-supplied at the local grocery store. When we returned to the hostel H-Bomb whipped up some killer brownies with caramel and chocolate chips. This girl has a talent for making brownies. These babies will not be forgotten. Later on after things settled down a little Pat, Bob¢s wife, came out to greet us and handed out our mail. In my package I received my new pocket mail to help out on journaling a little. She also brought out their huge bloodhound. Can¢t really remember his name but he was huge. Since I got in a little late and didn¢t want to sleep in the crowded bunkroom Shasta, Cabernet, and I just slept out under the picnic table on the porch. It doesn¢t sound too pleasant sleeping under a table, but I slept just fine. If anyone else ever sleeps on the porch though it maybe a good idea to use the old earplugs because the old guys use the restroom all through the night and it is locate just behind the porch.