Date: 2005-04-09
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: clear sky

This was a nice day, although the hiking was nearly all downhill, which is very painful on your knees. There were some awesome views and I shot a short video of the surrounding area (NOC, Fontana Dam, & The Smokies all in eye shot). We met up with Spoon Man as soon as we stepped off the trail in front of the NOC. It was great to see him again too.The NOC is a total tourist amusement area. There is the Nantahala River right there with a pedestrian bridge over it. They offer rafting and Kayaking on the river, which looks really fun too. We got a nice 3-bedroom and split the cost between 3 ways and it came to $20 each! Sweet Deal! There was also a BMX bike tournament there at the same time so we were really entertained. I washed all my clothes and myself thoroughly! We read on a flyer that there was a keg being tapped at 6pm, and since this is a dry county, it was our only chance for a beer. Now, this is where the story gets crazy...We get down there and sure enough the keg is on ice and there's a guy filling cups for free. But, there's no one around except about 8-10 of us thru-hikers! Apparently, the final bike race had finished early and everyone has already left! So it was Peanut, Ribeye, Dutchman, Noonen, Ugh, Strider, myself, and a few NOC employees all standing around trying to kill this keg of great beer I might add. It was called Gaelic Red and sponsered by the Highland Brewing Co. So we're all talking and telling stories and this girl, whom I had assumed was an employee, starts talking to Peanut and I overhear her say she is Jill from Danvers, MA, my hometown! It turns out she is a year younger than me and had graduated from the same high school. Such a crazy coincidence as there are only a total of 1,000 kids in the whole school. Just another one of those "it's a small world" stories.Anyhow, Noonen told so many funny stories I could fill this journal. I'd tell the one I wrote down but it would offend too many people so you'll just have to wait for the paperback, sorry! I will tell you that at one point in the night they moved the keg to a lounge called the Paddler's Pub and the owner let me play her classical guitar, which totally made my night. I remember playing the song, "Long Haired Country Boy" by Charley Daniels Band with Noonen and Dutchman singing along. It was awesome!A quick note on Dutchman. He is the most famous thru-hiker out there this year. Dutchman is a really great guy too, really funny. We met him weeks ago on the trail and he told us his story. Apparently, he decided to do the AT at the last minute without really researching it or really knowing a lot about it. He did the entire Approach Trail carrying a 90lb pack, it took him two days to hike the 8.8 miles! Dutchman is a big time outdoorsman/hunter from PA and all of his equipment is heavy, Cabella hunting gear. He also brought about 50lbs of canned goods! The first day on the trail, two cans of sardines broke open in his bag and the moisture caused the labels on all of the cans of corn and green beans to fall off. So now he doesn't know for sure each night which side he'll be having with his dinner! He said it's a real bitch when he's making burritos! He sports a big beard that looks sort of like Scott Ian from Pantera. Anyhow, he's got his pack down to a "comfortable" 60lbs now.