I woke up with the morning sun, as is my lot anymore. Mr. Fantastic was still sleeping, and I bided my time catching up with a couple shows on Hulu. By 9 we were both up and ready for food, so at the behest of the motel front desk agent we walked over to Bennett's for an AYCE buffet. Hikers really do seem to like their acronyms.
On the walk back we decided to hit up the satellite NOC shop they have here in Gatlinburg. Mr. Fantastic didn't find much of value, but I picked up a new steripen. The one I had was problematic with its outdated solar panel, but this new one is smaller and can work off my good solar charger.
Mr. Fantastic gave me some good news when I got back from the NOC, telling me that CVS would be here soon. We hadn't seen him since back in Franklin, and were concerned he wouldn't catch up because of his swollen ankle. His girlfriend came up to surprise him, and was giving him a ride from the NOC (the real one, not the satellite store) to Gatlinburg. They arrived around 2:30pm, and we got to meet her and her dog, both very friendly. I gave CVS my old steripen, which worked out perfectly since his was having battery issues. He also found a new pair of shoes, his size, in the hiker box. He's constantly swapping out his gear. I think he'll finish his hike without a single piece of gear that he started with. I also got rid of my camp towel, some redundant small supplies, knee brace, and tent liner (while it does stop some wetness getting through, it's a hassle to put up or down and makes my tent smell of mildew).
The three of us then set out to pick up the trolley at the aquarium. Gatlinburg is a very interesting place, and the main drag reminds me of Atlantic City and Ocean City wrapped together. Just subtract the beach and add the Smokey Mountains.
We left at 3, hoping to make a 4:15 showing of The Avengers. The trolley driver took us to the end of the line, where we had to get on another trolley going to the Welcome Center of another town called Pigeon Forge, and then one last trolley ride to the movie theater. By the time we arrived it was 5:15, so not only had we missed the show we aimed for, but the following show as well. We planned for an adjusted 7:25 viewing, and went into the Mellow Mushroom for some vittles and beer. The pizza was fantastic (red skin potato pizza!), and CVS bought us a round. After that it was movie time!
All I can really say is thank you Joss Whedon for making a childhood fantasy actually come true. The Avengers was fantastic, and the first scene after the credits gave me chills! My all time favorite Marvel character to be in the next movie?! Too perfect!
We came out of the theater to a torrential downpour outside. We had called a cab, but cancelled it halfway through the movie thanks to CVS finding us a ride. He met a local girl through Ben (the guy who hosted us in Franklin for the impromptu jam session), and she was kind enough to not only give us a ride back, but stop at a late night super market so we could do our food shopping. Only four days this time, not eight, so it was much easier shopping. She said she couldn't bear to let anyone ride the trolleys, because she knew what tormenting hell they could be.
We got back to the hotel and CVS went back out with her to have a few drinks. He isn't hiking on with us tomorrow because he wants to meet up with the Israelis here for their last night before going to Atlanta. He will hopefully catch up with us up the trail, but for now he'll crash on Mr. Fantastic's ultralight cot.
It was an awesome day, and I didn't even get to watch tonight's Game of Thrones. To be able to miss that and still call today a victory goes against my typical nature, so my nature must now be atypical. I guess that mental change is starting to come on.
