Day Eight Entry: Sep 17, 2013

So here I sit at Dick's Creek Gap, a road crossing of US 76. I'm waiting for Joyce or Sally to pick me up and take me back to Hiawassee. I have my first drop box waiting for me and I also need to get a new fuel canister. I finally used my first one up almost at breakfast. I could still squeeze two more cups of hot water out of it, enough for supper, but its time. The rumor is that one store, the Buckshead, may or may not have canisters. Joyce and Sally are working on it for me. I may have to build a stand of some sort out of a soda can for the alcohol stove and mail my jetboil ahead to Winding Stair Gap my next resupply
There are lots of little critters around: squirrels, butterflies, and millipedes. The brown ones about 6 inches long; the ants have a party when one dies. Aren't centipedes the ones that can bite? Every so often the side of the trail is all torn up. Even giant downed and rotting trees that look really termite or  infested look all torn up sometimes. I've been envisioning bears grubbing all around looking for food but I don't think so now. Yesterday I saw a whole herd of piggies. They must be this year's litter --they are about that size. (Right now I am having this incredible craving for a meat lovers Subway… And I've never even had one! ) PArt of it might be the incredibly efficient way my body is turning food into energy. Really! Hardly any waste at all. Oh sure I pee pretty regularly--staritng at 5:30 in the morning --when every guy in the shelter over 55 rouses himself to pee. What I'd really like is a good solid rewarding BM - shoot I could have packed half as much TP. So, these pigs were as cute as could be, all different colors and splotches --course me, I'm on the lookout for mom and then I think, no, it's the dad with these guys. No probs, they just snuffled off through the leaves and poison ivy.
Yesterday most of the conversation with myself was whether or not I need to carry the tent or some part of it with me. Last night there were 5 people in a shelter that holds 7. Again, this place must be crawling with thru hikers in the spring. Sally says its thru hiker season! Most people say keep the tent. I'd like to be able to set it up with just hiking poles instead of the whole freestanding set of poles.

Got in to TD Hiawassee Budget Inn-- picked up my resupply box - it's like Christmas! And I spoke to Dave at the desk and anything I don't want to carry for the next four days I can put in a box and the owner will take it to the Budget Inn in Franklin which is my next on-the-run resupply and I am thinking it might be my first Zero day (where I just soak in a hot bathtub and drink beer for a day of zero miles progress.) Ok ! When do the muscles stop hurting and the uphills become something besides sore? Muscles and mind games… Don't you "get in shape" at some point???
-83.6186°, 34.9124°

Ahh this is living!
Just sort of a comment here and I don't want to sound ungrateful because it has been quite a slog so far. This is wonderful hill country of streams lakes, gaps, hollers, stamps, balds, knobs. Ok I have not heard or read "holler" but all those other ones are legitimate geological formation. This is wonderful country and I am starting to see leaves change. But the "trail" is more a foot path with some serious ups and downs. Lots of section hikers this time of year and most people refer to Maine as rocks and roots. Most everyone agrees this southern part is good training to get you ready for New England .
150 S Main St, Hiawassee, Georgia, United States

Sent from my iPhone