Astrogirl

6 May 2006, Saturday ~ 15 miles
I’m staying at the Sunnybank Inn and sharing a room with the Librarian (a thru-hiker). She really is carrying a pile of books.

When I first got here, Elmer sent me up to the attic over the utility room hanging off the back of the house and said dinner was sold out. Then, two people left for the Alpine Motel, as they didn’t really like the Sunnybank. So, I will be having the legendary food, dinner and breakfast.

This place is very nice, and if I needed something to read (I don’t), I’d be all set — there are books everywhere. Elmer is very nice and it’s worth the pittance he gets from hikers, but I kind of understand why those women left. It’s very…hippie in here. It’s very B&B, and there’s a reason I don’t stay at B&Bs. I always feel an eensy bit tense and out of place.

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I had a hard time keeping a straight face during the dinner discussion. It was all “what kind of plant would you be” and their guest (a wild foraging teacher) was going on about how stimulating it is for the brain to eat raw stinging nettles. Um, OK.

I’m going home tomorrow. I did something to my foot, and I won’t be able to hike on it for days, probably, and something came up at home anyway. I will have to hit the Hot Springs to Erwin section in 2007.

5 May 2006, Friday ~ 15.4 miles

Max Patch was totally fogged in, misting and fucking freezing. I got rained on for six hours, but once you’re wet, you are wet, so why not go on? It’s warmer than sitting around anyway.

It was a pretty challenging day, but not because of the rain. There was a lot of climbing. Tomorrow will be easier, and I’m heading for Hot Springs.

4 May 2006, Thursday ~ 18.1 miles

Great place Curtis has here. I really thought today was 16 miles and was very surprised to find I’d done just over 18. I must have mis-read the map yesterday. Curtis put me in the little cabin, which is just awesome.

I got poured on today. I guess I couldn’t get out of the Smokies without that!

There are a bunch of thrus here: Big-X, Roni, J-Man, Fireman (Puff), Can-Man and Mr. Blister. I will be eating a pizza. Mmmm pizza, and Curtis will take us to get beer. Sounds like a good night ahead!

3 May 2006, Wednesday ~ 15.6 miles

I either had to take a shuttle at 12:30 for $7 or arrange one earlier for $40, so I got a late start. I burned up the trail today, and man are my dogs barkin’, as the saying goes.

Here I am in a shelter again. There is just nowhere to tent at this shelter. It’s not full, at least.

Beautiful Day today and some very nice views. I got a few bug bites through my pants, which is pretty annoying. Black flies maybe? There were horse flies and black flies all over the place.

Saw two guys on horses, one leading another horse and one leading a burro. Here are Pacer, Diesel, Puff, Can-Man, J-Man, Roni and two sectioners.

2 May 2006, Tuesday ~ 18.2 miles

It was a tough 18.2, but it was totally worth it. I’m now back on schedule, and I’m in a hotel room, clean and fed.

Gatlinburg is an odd place. We have friendly locals, goths (who may also be local) and Russians. The bartender at No Way Jose’s was a pretty but grumpy Russian. Mexican restaurant, Russian bartender.

Clingman’s Dome wasn’t too bad of a climb. It was when I found myself climbing again after descending off *that* that I got annoyed. Presumably, that was Mt. Love.

My ride in to town was four retired guys who knew each other form college. After college, they were all in Vietnam but in different branches of the Armed Forces

I’ll be heading for Tri-Corner tomorrow, though it’s kind of a long slog.

1 May 2006, Monday ~ 11.7 miles

Very tough day again. I could have gone a few more miles, but the Smokies require that you stay at a shelter, so I couldn’t just eat dinner and go on to a dry camp, as I usually would.

I’m here with 2 people from Mollie’s, Duck Soup and Ranger Rick. Two thru-hikers are here too: Wild Poodle and Muddy Shoes. I’ve already seen a mouse here, damn it.

My choices for tomorrow all suck. The shelter a reasonable distance is 1/2 mile off the trail, and I hate that shit. I always get there and push on to *something* else*.

The weather today was splendid and the views were outstanding. Took a nap on a break on Rocky Top — the sunshine was soooo nice. That’s the Rocky Top of legend, BTW.

30 April 2006, Sunday ~ 11.5 miles

Started at Fontana Dam, and to be honest, I lost the trail and did a lot of extra stomping around. I have no idea how I missed the blaze to cross the dam, but there it is.

This is a huge shelter, and the hiker zoo chain-link has been removed. The bear cables are a snap to use — much better than the pole/hoist system they use in Shenandoah National Park. There are six of us here, and the only thru-hiker is Ranger Rick.

I got sleeted on today. Twice. It’s now raining and blowing like crazy. There is a hearth in here, and some sectioners from NC built a fire. Someone left a huge tarp here that’s covering the entrance. That really helps with the wind, but it kind of sucks not to be able to see out at all.

Bedtime for me.