Date: 2004-02-21
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Log entry 21Starting time: 1000End time: 1445Morning weather: cool and clear, high 30sAfternoon weather: clear, breezy, cool, around 40Evening weather: clear and cool, 46 deg in HotspringsBreakfast: strawberry Jello, Cream of Wheat, Juevos Rancheros (Backpackers Pantry)Lunch: cupcakesDinner: chicken fingers, fries, onion rings, and bacon cheese fries and Dr Pepper fromThe Smoky Mountain DinerTrail description: a pleasant day, climbs were gradual but long and downhills were long enough not to be bothersome.People: The Solemates, Jacob's mom and dad (Sally an Clarence - not their real names but that's what people call them) and sister Lauren and also Trisha and Lauren's Friend Ryan (I think that's how she spells it), and Elmer and his crew.Wildlife: birds, squirrels; still no bears or rattlesnakes, sigh...Money spent: about $2.50 for laundry, 3 for snacks, and 10 for dinnerBiggest complaints: hunger, feet were quite soreThoughts: I stayed up late last night journalling, like 22:00. (10 oclock) and I didn't wake up until 0830. I cooked a long breakfast. The Jello was great, it gellified overnight. The Cream of Wheat tasted like feet and the juevos rancheros were good but made a mess out of my pot which I didn't waste time cleaning since I was headed into town. By 1000 we were all ready to roll. We made super time in the bright sunshine, the temps were low enough that we could keep a brisk pace and not sweat. The wind was especially cooling. Somewhere on the climb up Bluff Mountain shelter Trisha had to stop to pee so I pressed on ahead promising to see them at Sunnybank. I continued the fast pace and humped over Bluff Mountain and then down the back side. My first stop of the day was at Little Bottom Branch Gap where I stopped only long enough to finish off the last 4 golden yellow cupcakes. Then downward into Hotsprings.The AT follows Bridge Street which goes right past Elmers. As I walked up to the door the wind held in its clutches the deep fried oily goodness that is TheSmokey Mt Diner. I couldn't wait until later. As I came around the back doora blue minivan came in behind me and a kind, gentle old fellow greeted me. Elmer! What a nice dude. He had one of his helper dudes show me to my room. I stayed in room 4, the only one with access to the upstairs porch. I emptied my pack and moved most gear out on the porch to air out in the warmlate afternoon Carolina sun. I then gathered up what laundry needed soaping and headed down the hill to Ramsey's Amusements Store and Laundry. I am not sure what the amusement part was but it looked to me like a low-budget quickie-mart. I dumped my wash in and munched on generic Nacho cheese flavored chips. They were delicious. Once the wash was done I moved my threads into the dryer and headed up the street to Bluff Mountain Outfitters. I perused the organic food isles for a while and chewed the fat with the locals. The outfitters there said that a dude and his dog stopped in yesterday (Icecold and Mista 3000) and a dude named "Willow" was a couple weeks ahead. I recognized both names from the shelter registers. I'm glad they both made it this far, their shelter entries sounded cold and lonely. I left 15 minutes prior to closing, 1645, and headed back up 2 blocks to the laundrymat. As I was whistling my way up the road the Denali full of the Solemates and friends pulled up and advised me that they were headed to eat. I gathered my clothes in my daypack and made tracks to the diner. I sucked down an unhealthy but respectable amount of Dr Pepper and was quickly presented with a huge plate of cheddar-bacon fries. They were delectible. We all left stuffed and full of smiles. The Solemates and I kept everyone entertained with stories of the Smokies and also of Curtis of the Standing Bear Farm. The Solemates and family left to go play cards and I retreated to the Inn for an evening of mindless entertainment, or so I thought...I opened the movie closet and looked over the jacket covers. So much to choosefrom. The 3 that caught my eye were Bowling for Columinbine, Forrest Gump, andTigerland. I decided to watch them in order of societal value. First Bowling for Columbine, then Gump, then wrapping it up with a mindless vietnam actionthriller, Tigerland. I really enjoyed Bowling for Columbine. It's a 2 hourdocumentary about guns, violence, and why it happens so much more frequently inAmerica. Just a great movie for the trail because it gets you thinking so much, and that is the one thing I have plenty of time to do. The main thing I think that Michael Moore tried to question was why there are so many more deaths by firearms in the US than in Canada. Moore raised a loT of interesting questions but did not give answers. He shot a lot of holes in the NRA but couldn't provide better solutions. So it was kind of unsettling. But a very good watch at least from the standpoint of an aspiring young police officer. Since coming to the South over 3 weeks ago now I have had random quips from Forrest Gump in my head. So I was delighted when I spotted a VHS copy. As I watched I took careful note of the sayings of "moma" and the lingo of Forrest. There was still time for one more so I popped in Tigerland. It's a newer Vietnam movie about a troop of recruits just before they ship off to 'Nam. It was surprisingly good and even had a little deeper meaning. I won't go into it because time doesn't allow. Don't watch it with your kids or wife but it's a classic Vietnam flick that will make you thankful for good faithful friends and brothers."Being brave is carrying youself in a manner so that no one know how scared you really are."   Bozz (Tigerland)