Date: 2003-04-07
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

start Betty Creek Gapdestination Rock Gap ShelterWell, another night without strange sounds in the woods,other than people snoring!I am celebrating today!It wasthe first night that I slept all night without having to get up and find a tree!Whoopee,I am a big girl now!It was pretty wet not raining hard,but just enough to make you want to climb back in yor sleepimg bag.We are all excited about going into Franklin,get a motel room,a shower using lots of hot water and towels,and go to Shoneys for some real food!I was the first one to get out of camp today,followed close behind by Hiker Biker Babe who soon passed me.Every morning we decide where we are going to meet up.That lets everyone hike their own pace,and then come back together for lunch or supper.It seems to work really well for us.The climb up bad name mountain was a piece of cake for me.There were a couple of hard places you had to climb up,almost on all fours,but I made it fairly easy.Albert Mountain was also quite easy.All I had to do was take 25 steps,rest for a few moments,then takes 25 more steps.the rain had everything slippery,but it just required more concentration.It was at the foot of Albert Mountain,that bizarre things began to happen. I came upon this huge rock like cliff and it seemed the trail went right up over it.Key word here is "seemed".Keep in mind that I am blond! There was no way my short little legs were going to be able to make those climbs without some heavy duty assistance.I had to put my poles up in front of me,grab hold of roots sticking out of the ground and literally pull my self up each time.I would just find a crevice to lay my poles in and heave myself up.Grab my poles and start all over.I decided that since Mudbutt's legs are even shorter than mine,I would just wait here for her and Silver Lining.I figured that worst case,I could pull while SilverLining pushed Mudbutt up the trail.They would later accuse me of lying in wait of a supreme photo opportunity instead.I put my rain gear on to keep from getting cold,pulled out my silver windshield screen that I use under my thermarest,and also as a seat to stay dry when I take a break.I figured they were about 30 to 45 minutes behond me.I started praying which is what I usually do whenever I am waiting anywhere.I prayed for over and hour before 2 hikers came by.I heard them coming and watched in sheer amazement as they looked up at the rock outcroping,took 3 steps past it and nimbly walked up the trail! I felt really dumb but wasn't about to say a word on how I had climbed up the trail.I asked them how far the two ladies were behind them,they said about 30 or 45 minutes.So I sat back down and started praying again.I ahd prayed for about 45 minutes and had prayed for everyone I knew,some I didn't know and was about to start praying for BenLaden and Hussain,when another hiker came up the trail.(again with ease).I asked him how far behind him the two ladies were and he said"What ladies?"I described them while he insisted that he had passed no one on the trail.I asked him again to be sure,he said he thought he would remember passing someone,and insisted that he had saw no one.Now I am not the type of person to panic easily.I wasn't sure what had happened to SilverLining and Mudbutt ,but I knew that they had been inback of me.Since I was starting to get cold and hungry,and since I could think of no one else to pray for,I started hiking to Big Spring shelter where we were going to meet for lunch.I got to the firetower that offers a spectacular view,except today all you could see was fog.A couple of places along the trail,it was probably a good thing that I could not see anything,as steep as it was.I had just finshed Albert Mountain,still trying to figure where my friends had disappeared to,and wondering if there had been any alien sightings around here,when from a trail to my left,who should come in sight but Mudbutt and SilverLining.Both of them,whooping and carrying on,overjoyed that they had found me:I looked at them dumbfounded,not being able to figure out why they were so happy to find me!I was not the one who was lost!I was not the one who diappeared into thin air.I did not notice until after everyone quit talking that they were not wearing their packs.They were far too happy to have been the victims of robbery or hijacking. They finally told me what had happened, Mudbutt's parents had ben ridingup and down the forest road looking for us.Mudbutt had spotted the van and they had a grand reunion.They had left thier packs in the van,and hiked up to find HikerBiker Babe and I.That is what is called slack packing. I was still a little miffed that I had waited so long for them and they never showed up,that and the fact that I had missed a photo opp with Mudbutt.A nutty buddy bar soon had me in a better frame of mind.That and the promise of a ride to town,dinner and a motel room.All at no cost to us!What awesome trail magic.They had sat down at Rock Gap passing out food to hungry hikers,asking each of them where we were on the trail.Children beware,your momma can always find out where you are!Mudbutt and Silver Lining were on their way to the shelter to find HikerBiker Babe and I when they ran into me.   The three of us headed for the shelter to get HikerBiker Babe and then down the mountain we came clipping along at a brisk past.We were like cows headingfor the feed trough at feeding time.I soon passed them up and was greeted at Rock Gap by Dixie and Buddy Huthmaker.Two of the best trail angels there are.It was during this time that Mudbutt stepped on a rock and hurt her foot,but it didn't seem to be too painful so they hiked on and met us at Rock Gap.While we were waiting on them,I ran,yes read the word" ran" down a blue blazed trail to see the second largest poplar tree in the US.It was a half mile down to it,but very well worth the side trip.It was an awesome sight and I was glad that I took the time to go see it We loaded up the van,and headed for town. Buddy Huthmaker is not only the best trail angel (well,next to my husband)but he actually did not care that we all smelled bad and were dirty.He did however have the windows rolled down on the trip into town!Part 2: We went into Dillard, Georgia to eat at the famous Dillard Hours Restaurant.We sure seem to have a hard time staying out of Georgia!It was a really snazzy place,but our host and hostess seemed oblivious to the fact that we were dirty,smelly and dressed funny.Of course,we were seated over in a corner pretty much by ourselves.Then the waitresses,yep 2 waitresses started bringing plates of fodto our table.This was a hiker's dream.All you could eat buffet of such foods as barbeque chicken,cured ham,fried chicken,country fried steak,squash casserole,salad,fried okra,new potatoes,green beans,cabbage casserole.The food just kept coming.Our eyes bulged out of our head as we gazed at this bountiful feast.All washed down by as many glasses of sweet tea a body could handle.Well,everyone but me.I had asked my hiker friends to remind me what sweet tea does to my sleeping habits,so I had plain water with lemon.Then a bowl of strawberry cobbler floating in vanilla ice cream finished us off.We really got some funny stares,but we did not care.We were in heaven. Then it was back to Franklin,NC to the motel.We all took turns in the shower,long spells of hot water,soap and rough towels.Boy what a treat. Mudbutt's foot was still hurting her,so we made her put it up and put some ice on it.