Date: 2012-02-22
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Woke up with a mission to get to Dicks Creek Gap and somehow get to Hiawassee, GA which is 11 miles west on highway 76. Another sunny day...what luck I am having with the weather overall...got to Dicks Creek Gap at 2:30pm and passed no one along the way...I was leery of hitchhiking into town...I thought Hiawassee was only 3.5 miles away so I started walking...at first the wrong way...I started walking along the paved road...I felt like Peter Jenkins author of "Walk Across America".About a quarter mile into my walk into town, I came across some country dog...looked part Pitbull/American Bulldog...I crossed the street to get on the opposite side of the road from it...of course he/she just crossed the road to my side barking up a storm...I had my trekking poles at the ready. I am sure Bubba was looking out the trail window watching what I would do to his dog. Luckily for me the dog didn't try to bite me and just kept on walking.A little while later, a pickup passed me and then turned around. The pickup slowed as came by me and older man asked in a Georgia accent if I needed a ride into town. I said YES! Bob was the man's name and he stated that he liked to help out the hikers when he could. He told me that it was about 11 miles into town. The Trail God blessed me with Bob. I never would made into town until night fall if he hadn't picked me up. Lessons learned: (1) know the correct distance into towns, (2) the trailhead parking lot was empty..weekday...no one to ask for a ride into town..try to schedule arriving at "resupply trailheads" during weekends when lots are full of day hikers. Bob was nicest 70ish gentleman I could have met...THANKS Bob!Bob dropped me off at the Mull Inn..right in the middle of Hiawassee, GA around 4pm...I went to the office and it was locked. A sign outside the office stated if no one is in the office to call Darlene Mull and gave a number. I called the number and sure enough Darlene answered. Darlene in the nicest southern voice said she would be there in 15 minutes. So I sat outside the office and waited for Darlene. Darlene pulled up 15 minutes on the dot. For $100 I got two nights and a room that was freshly painted. I closed the door and collapsed on the bed. Into the hot shower I went for what seemed like eternity.After the shower I put on some fresh shorts and headed to Daniel's Steak House (recommended by Darlene...it had a "Gone with the Wind" theme...what else!) for their $7.95 all you can eat buffet of chicken along with all the southern trimmings. I ate until my stomach couldn't take anymore. While eating, a 87 year old southern prankster, Wayne Youngblood, came in and sat in front of me. He was talking up a storm with the waitresses...had them all blushing. He engaged me and moved to my table...He said he had lived in the area his whole life and retired in 1981 the first time from GM...and has retired 5 more times since then. His wife recently passed away and he is now owns a lawnmower repair shop in the area. The nicest person in the world...I told him I would give him a call when I reached Maine..I wanted a picture of him, but didn't have my camera. I ended the day by resupplying my food rations at Ingles. I got a little more creative...bought pancake mix, powered milk and cereal, single servings of Spam, salmon, tuna (various flavors) and of course more Ramen Noodles.Full day..tomorrow I must find a wall charger for cell phone, camera and IPod. The solar charger just isn't doing the job.