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!
