Date: 2013-03-13
From: Long Branch Shelter

To: Franklin, NC residence
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

"I wondered who was crazy enough to be sleeping out there." - RoostaI do not sleep well, but I have the advantage of going to sleep tired. I am not cold except for the occasional cold spot where part of my body moves away from the space blanket in my ground cover. The night is mild until the much talked-about cold arrives. While fading between sleep and consciousness I discover that the cold snap has arrived. The air temperature has changed enough for me to easily notice the difference while half-asleep. However, my bag works well in spite of me wearing two layers and no jacket, and I am not too cold to get back to sleep.I am the last one to start moving in the morning. When I finally do get up I see who is here. Roosta, Chickadee, Chris, and Cassandra are at this shelter. There are also two thru-hikers I have not seen before - when I ask where they are from they tell me they are from Colorado and launch into a John Denver tune. The shelter is a large deal with two platforms and there would have been plenty of space for me. On the top platform there are two women and their dog, out camping or backpacking for a short time. As everyone else is moving out, I get my gear organized and repacked. The two women are staying here a while it seems, but all the thru-hikers have moved out by the time I start walking.I plan to take a short day and go into Franklin. I covered a great distance yesterday and wasn't expecting to reach Franklin until tonight or tomorrow, so I figure a nero in is a good compromise. The Trail between here and Franklin looks pretty straightforward - a climb, a descent, a shelter, a climb, and a descent. It turns out to be just that straightforward. I climb away from the shelter, then descend toward the next one. Rock Gap Shelter is in deep shade, and with the cool breeze and lack of sunlight I see no reason to stop here. The Trail runs flat for a bit and crosses a road before climbing steadily for an elevation gain of about 700 feet. The climb seems longer that that, and I attribute that feeling to last night's poor sleep and probably not eating enough today.The Trail continues a gradual climb for a couple miles before descending into Winding Stair Gap. The descent goes slower than I thought it would, but that might be my stomach desiring to get into town and get warm food. I find myself reaching the highway at noon. It is amusing to think I was right here Sunday evening, hitchhiking the other way to Hiawassee. I decide to try hitchhiking from the parking lot where there is plenty of space for cars to pull off. I have no luck, and a shuttle for one of the Franklin inns wants five dollars to bring me into town. A dump truck stops to cool its brakes before proceeding further downhill but the driver can't take passengers. I start walking toward town.There is a cut for the highway, and a cold wind is funneled through it. I get lucky after walking a few miles down the road, and approximately the 35th car pulls off for me. A local with an old bus is out testing it in the mountains and lets me on. This is my fourth time hitchhiking, and the first time someone doesn't recognize or assume I am hiking the AT. He thinks I am a drifter - okay, I kind of am a drifter right now - and offers me advice on soup kitchens and places to sleep around town. I thank him when we reach his destination on the edge of town and begin the toughest part of the day - choosing my town food.Franklin offers many choices, but my trail guide indicates no all-you-can-eat establishments. I decide on the Bojangles in account of its proximity, and fill myself with unhealthy goodness. I text Chickadee to announce I am in town and see where the hikers are, and am dismayed to find out they are at an all-you-can-eat place. I finish my meal at Bojangles and start walking into town. The center of town is almost two miles from where I am now, but with plenty of food in me I am not planning to hitchhike in. However, I only get as far as the bridge over Route 64 and a car pulls off the road next to me offering a ride into town. I am not one to turn down a free ride - I spent enough time on roads at my old job - and I hop in. The driver is a displaced upstate New Yorker who has found himself down here for family. He drops me off on Main Street, and I spot Chickadee, Roosta, Chris, and Cassandra.These guys are heading to the outfitter, and having nothing better to do I follow. I find one thing to get here - an extra emergency blanket. The one I have is used for my hammock's insulation, and it is nice to have a second one to wrap around my legs in my sleeping bag in very cold weather. I watch Cassandra get fitted properly for shoes. It sounds boring but turns out to be quite a show. The guy performing this function is talking about shoes and feet the way I can talk about cameras and photography when I get carried away and geek out. While I don't understand what is being said, I umderstand how it is being said. I am slightly curious to see what would work best for my feet, as I am just lucky and my existing hiking shoes are very comfortable. However, I am fresh into town with three days of walking and sweating on my feet. I decide it is tactful to simply move along.The next stop is at the dollar store to resupply. I don't need anything, and successfully limit this trip to getting more pepperoni and a few snacks. Now the party is splitting up - the Budget Inn is full, so Chris and Cassandra are staying one place while Chickadee and Roosta are staying elsewhere. I remember Mary lives in town and offered me a floor to sleep on. I call to see if this offer is still available, and it is. I just have to hang around town for a couple hours before she can get me. Mary recommends Rathskeller, a German coffeehouse, and I walk over there to kill some time. I catch up on some writing and get my photos up-to-date. Mary comes for me at 1800 and brings me to her residence on the edge of town. She has two sons around my age in the area, and they are all pleasant company. We have a dinner of pasta and garlic bread and talk hiking, but I can feel exhaustion reach me and I retire to the couch to sleep.Peace,