Date: 2005-04-05
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Addis Gap
Miles today: 10.8

I slept a lot better the second night in my tent. Oaky got up early and headed out saying he would meet us at the Cheese Factory. Mr. Fusion was waiting for me, but like every morning I pack my pack differently, I was taking too long trying to shove everything in there. So he took off and being the sweetheart that he is waited for me at the first water source so I could have treated water. We climbed up the beast of Trey Mtn where I met Super Trooper & Tax Man. Talk about a couple of characters. Tax Man is from Bedford, England where he literally collects taxes. It¢s hilarious because everyone apparently thinks he¢s Australian even though [to me] he¢s obviously from the outskirts of London. The two were hiking with massive hangovers. They spent the night in Helen, GA which is some tourist trap modeled after the German Alps. I¢m so mad I missed out. Maybe I¢ll come back next year and visit while performing some trail magic. :-) Speaking of trail magic, I experienced my first bit this afternoon. At Tray Gap (Hwy 79) Pacemaker, who is extremely cute btw, was hanging out with pizza, cold soda and cold beer. He said when he thru-hiked last year he experienced his first trail magic at Trey Gap so he came back this year to give back. Thank you Pacemaker for being my first trail angel. :-) Poor Mr. Fusion had shot ahead of me just before the gap so he missed out. I grabbed a soda for him though. He couldn¢t believe I carried 12oz to the top of Trey Mtn just for him. Hey, what are friends for? ;-) (and it was only 12oz) The top of the mountain had an amazing view ¢ better than Blood Mtn apparently (I wouldn¢t know because of the thick for & rain) I hung out with Tax Man & Super Trooper at the top but then rushed on the find Mr. Fusion and unload that soda can. After finally catching up to him at Trey Mtn Shelter we hiked all the way to Addis Gap where we had heard rumors about all day from South Bounders. Apparently there was a ¢feast in the forest¢ and it contained beer. So naturally we busted our asses to get there. The rumors were true. As we drew near we saw signs enticing thru-hikers to stop by and even stay. Even though it was half a mile off the trail it was well worth it. There was a party taking place in the woods. Two bouts of trail magic in one day! The Feast in the Forest has been going on for 12 years now. It all started when a couple hikers stopped for a toke break. Some other thru-hikers passed by and the two offered them a toke and some oranges. The passerbys opted out of the toke but were drooling over the oranges. So the tradition began¢this one guy decided to return to that very spot the next year and hand out oranges to thru-hikers. Although he doesn¢t participate anymore, others have taken over and it has turned into a full-fledged feast. I had a baked potato, corn & lima beans, potato salad, lots of cookies and wine. Unfortunately the last of the three kegs was tapped out (it¢d been going on since Friday). I got good and tipsy off the wine they had though. There were a bunch of us hanging out, chilling around the campfire and the TONS of food that was out there. How amazing. Moo, this lady from Wisconsin, has been hosting Feast in the Forest for the last five years now. Basically her and these other guys just partied in the woods for a week and catered to thru-hikers.   I met a lot cool people there. Unfortunately Oaky missed it. He got off the trail before making it to the Cheese Factory sited because of a foot problem. Poor guy. He would have had a blast. I met this really cute quiet guy, Wondering Bull, who just finished the Florida Trail last week. Amazing. He seems very friendly. I also met B-Man who smokes more than anyone else I¢ve seen. He also hikes with a hockey stick, which is hilarious. I don¢t know if I mentioned swallowing my tongue ring ball on the approach trail or not, but I¢ve been very good about keeping track of the ring itself (since it won¢t stay in on it¢s own). Then tonight when I was feeling good and tipsy I remembered I hadn¢t taken my two night-time vitamins. Aside from swallowing the vitamins I managed to swallow my tongue ring - bar and all. I¢m so stupid! That¢s what I get for drinking though. The night ended with a bunch of us sleeping cowboy style under the stars. Talk about beautiful. The sky was so clear! Mr. Fusion and I found a nice spot near the creek. It was a fabulous end to a fabulous day. :-D