Back on the path

After the festivities last night, Mr. Fantastic and I were dragging a little. Our stuff had mostly dried out though, which we were very thankful for. All my electronics were fully charged (iphone, gopro, solio charger), and I was able to download more audiobooks from Audible for good measure.
I started off toward the closest gear shop which opens up at 10am. The guy there was very helpful. I picked up some backpacker meals, 5oz of denatured alcohol to top me off, a rubber bowl (because I'm sick of cleaning my cooking pot), and a steripen. It's what they had at the store, and it's case comes with a solar charger; which is very handy on the trail.
Mr. Fantastic and I signed the hiker logbook there and continued down Main Street to a little malt shop to gorge ourselves on one last delicious meal before embarking.
With fries, brownies and ice cream settling, we walked another couple blocks to Ingles to get our food shopping done. In case you don't know, Ingles is made in America.
We had to stock up enough food to last about 8 days. The most we've packed thus far. It was quite a challenge, and a little nerve-racking. I still can't fit it all in my bear bag, so some things are strung up outside of the bag.
We each opened and repackaged our food supplies to do away with excess garbage (carry in, carry out), while waiting for our shuttle to come pick us up.
Once back on the trail we had an 8 mile hike ahead of us. The only challenge was that we didn't get back to the trail until around 1:45pm. Thankfully we're still getting stronger everyday, so we were able to pull into our shelter by 5:30pm with ease. We worried about rain, but made it before the clouds opened up. That happened while we were eating dinner with a few vaguely familiar faces.
I cooked up some Santa Fe style rice and chicken. It was insanely filling. I do so love those expensive dehydrated backpacker meals!
Tonight finds us with four dogs in camp (the most we've seen), and the first time some people had seen the moon since they got out here. Having taken quite a few midnight strolls into the bushes, I've seen the moon plenty of times after the haze clears from early evening. It's always good to be back out here, especially with absolutely no knee problems. I think I've finally solved that problem.
Hopefully our friends can catch up with us, but we're hoping to start upping the pace. You have to keep moving if your food is going to last. Plus Trail Days, a big hiker celebration in Damascus, VA, is coming up and we'll have to push to make. It's a bit of a long shot, but if we can average 16 miles a day from now until May 19th we'll make it to the party. We only found out about this out here, and while we have no real need to go, it would be a great experience for the trip. Here's hoping we can meet the challenge.

Excitement in abundance

So this is a late post for me. Today started with wind. We wanted to catch an 11 o'clock shuttle into Franklin that was 5.5 miles away. I set out early, always eager to not be rushed. Leaving at 7:30am, I was the second person to set forth for the day. It was overcast and scarily windy.
I walked 3 miles before bumping into Aspen Glow, the one person who has left before me, as he was packing away his jacket.
I kept walking, feeling good at how easy the trail was this morning. Then the hail came. Pea sized hail came raining down on me, along with sheets of rain, and bright pink lightning all around. I threw on my rain gear (sans pants, because I'm an idiot) and took off towards my destination.
I arrived at the parking lot, hoping for a canopy of some kind but finding none. The hail had mostly stopped so I stood in the rain and waited, but not for long. It was only 9:30, so I had made it in time for the early bus. The guy told me there was a tornado watch, so I hopped on and he gave me a lift into town. I don't need to hear any more than that to get me off the side of the road. The van driver turned out to be the owner of the Budget Inn both here in Franklin and back at Hiawassee. He shuttles hikers at no charge and is a really interesting guy. He told us about a great AYCE buffet for only $10. He also told us that buffet stands for big ugly fat folks eating together, which we all enjoyed.
I caved and booked a room at the Budget Inn. I was too soggy and cold to pass up a hot shower. Mr. Fantastic arrived around 12:30, and thankfully the rain had slowed dramatically. He didn't even see the hail.
I went on a hunt for a McDonalds, because I craved calories. After throwing back a large quarter pounder meal, Tim and I met up with CVS, Israel, Reid, and Aspen Glow at the local steakhouse. I proceeded to then put away a plate of buffalo chicken wings, a house salad, and a 32oz yeungling. It was grand.
Back at the room Mr. Fantastic took a nap while I listened to the new Dark Tower novel on Audible(!). Then it was time to go drinking. We went over to the only local bar, Mulligan's. We met the same crew, plus a new friend they had made named Ben who was a local.
After some food, a few beers, some tequila, fun live music, and a couple of rowdy girls, we all jumped in Bens pickup and went back to his place to continue the festivities. He had 40 acres, a beautiful house, and enough instruments to inspire an impromptu jam session. After playing a lot of music, laughing a lot, and eating some french toast prepared by CVS, Ben gave us exhausted hikers a lift back to our respective pillows.
It was a day of highs and lows, but mostly fun and comraderie.
We plan on getting back on the trail tomorrow, and have a lot of food shopping to do. We're inching ever closer to the Smokies, and it's all becoming more and more like real life. We're not even two weeks in and this feels like what we do. I can't wait to see how natural this feels after a month!

Best views and best weather

I awoke tucked tightly in my sleeping bag, dreading how cold it was going to be. I was joyously surprised though, as today was absolutely beautiful out!
Our 10 mile hike today was over very level, very beautiful terrain. It made for a wonderful day. Then at the very end came by far our steepest climb yet. It was exhausting, but came with the best view yet. A short hike down brought me to our planned campsite at only 2:30.
Mr. Fantastic arrived shortly, followed by Aspen Gold. We all set up tents (still not willing to sleep with the mice) and ate just as a thunderstorm passed overhead. This brought to camp the Jews, Reid and his dog Rose (I thought he had thrown in the towel), Bret Michaels and Bitchy Bitch, Sleeping Bear, and CVS. It made for another fun evening as we all got excited for our day in Franklin tomorrow and some serious food.
Hopefully I'll find some signal or wifi when there so I can post this backlog of updates. Plus I really want to download the new Dark Tower novel on Audible!
Oh and I almost forgot to mention, Mr. Fantastic thinks there was a bear poking its nose around his tent last night. He says he kept his cool in his sleeping bag, but for his eyes wide open and searching wildly. If it came by my tent I slept soundly through it.

Our first snow

I woke to the beautiful sight of CVS stoking a morning fire. Salty Hiker was just waking as well, so we collected some firewood for CVS and began our breakfast rituals.
I was the first to leave camp today, as it was terribly cold and windy. Moving warns you up better than anything.
Today was a 12 mile day, but it went by quite painlessly. Tim caught up with me in the afternoon and we hiked down to our planned campsite.
The rest of our crew didn't make it this far today, but we did get to camp with Nat Geo.
Nat Geo consists of two hikers (Balloo and Pac Man) who are filming a 90 minute self-funded documentary. It was a nice day if not for the cold and occasional snow and hail. It's currently raining pretty hard and has warmed up a bit though, so tonight shouldn't be as painful as last night.
Tomorrow should be 10 miles, and then we'll be hitting another town the next day to resupply. That is of course if we don't have any problems with bears, since this area of the trail is apparently a bear sanctuary. If seeing that posted on every tree around the trail doesn't put your mind at ease in your sleeping bag, then nothing will.