Statistics

So as we have been hiking, people have been telling us the drop out rate for this trip. Apparently 1 in 3 drop out by Neels Gap, which for us was over a week ago. 1 in 2 drop out before they reach North Carolina, we reached the border about 4 days ago. We are still loving it, so it is looking good for us thus far. Today we are resupplying in Franklin. The next stop should be Fontana Dam, right before the Smokies. This will be the longest trip before the next resupply. So that means carrying more food, AKA heavy ass bag. I've attached some pictures from Franklin, and yes they do have separate parking for trucks (there are a lot of trucks out here.)

Plumorchard shelter

So lastnight we were awakened by some comotion. The commotion was the sound of coyotes howling at midnight. They were very close but unfortunetly, and fortunetly, we did not see them. I also think that I now have a trail name. It is Divining Rod. Instead of water I can find gold. Let me explain... I picked a nice big tree to lean against about 30 yards from the trail. I had my trowel and was digging a cat hole. When don't you know, I struck gold. Out of thousands of acres of land and 14 states that the AT goes through, I picked the place that someone else thought was a good place to take a dump. So while telling this story to Charlie a 75 year old man. He and Jason think up the name Divining Rod. Not for H2O, oh no, but for my amazing power to find poo. It is a very unique name I just may take it.

Chilling at Plumorchard Gap Shelter

So another nero day. Left Hiawassee today hiked 4 1/2 miles to Plumorchard Gap Shelter. (So if I haven't explained what a shelter is let me do that now. It is what we call in Mass a lean-to. It has 3 walls and a roof. The rest is open to see out of.) This particular shelter has some mascots. They happen to be Copperhead snakes. They live in leafy stump. The nice thing about this shelter... no mice.
We have met some other thru-hikers that seem to have the same pace as us. The one in the loft is Challenger(Jason) Washington and the other is Easy does it(Micheal) Texas. We have been hanging out with them for the last couple of days.

Resupply day

So this was our first day to resupply our food and toiletries. It started by waking up at 5 in the morning to reach the 9am shuttle about 4 miles away. I don't know what 5 am looks like back at home but here in the woods it is dark. Like pitch black, dark. So we did our 1st "night hike" of this trip to enjoy a full day in town. It wasn't so bad. We had lightning to guide our way.... Yes lightning. Really though it was kind of fun.
In town it was difficult to try and pick what I wanted to eat for the next week. Everything looked a good. Unfortunetly everything would be very heavy but I was able to control myself.
We are staying at a Budget Inn and it is better than you would expect. Just check out the view, and I was looking at this while sitting under an apple tree in full bloom. Very nice "nero" day.

Day 8

Stayed at blue montain shelter last night. Had our 1st run in with mice. They bit into my zip locks to sniff them out, they didn't find any food. But they did make me second guess staying in a shelter.

Day 5 of hiking, March 12th

Stayed at Blood Mountain Cabins. Very nice after a work week of hiking. Fun pic of me.. BONUS!!!

Signed in at Amicolola, March 7th

Number 189 and 190. Stayed at the Max Epperson Jr. shelter behind the visitor center that night.

Train station, March 6th

Breakfast with Mom before the trip to GA. Trains on track 6.

Saying goodbye

Jolene and Shiann... T minus 1 day to start. 5th of March.

1st chance to post

So day 6 and this is the 1st chance I have had to post. We have met some very nice people so far. We have had two free rides from strangers who I like to think of as friends now. One to get to the Amicilola start and another to get to town to pick up some very needed 1st aid.
So about the 1st aid ..... Ofcourse it was me to be the 1st one with an injury even though it was slight. Word of advice if u start to feel rubbing on your feet take care of it right away. If not u end up with a big ass blister the size of a quarter. Mole skin is the shit, tape it on the blister and u are go to go. I also have a heat rash from my toes up past my ankle. Hopefully the cortaid will help. All is still good. It has been a great couple of days so far. The weather has been great only one rainy day. We have met some of our fellow thru-hikers, people from all over the country. It has been great to spend this time with Jay.....So alot of rambling but we are taking a zero day (no miles) today. Cleaning up and doing laundry. We stopped at Neels Gap at this place called Walisi-yi. It is a backpackers Disneyland. If i didnt have to carry it with me all the way to Maine I could spend some money here. Well that is it. Leaving here in good spirits.