Start:Unicoi Gap (AT mi 52.5). Stop: Neels Gap (AT mi 31.3 miles). Today’s miles: 21.2 miles. Total AT mileage: 2161.8 miles.
I slept hard with my earplugs in. When I woke up and tiptoed to the bathroom, I thought TownLegs and Jon were still asleep-they weren’t, they were hanging out in the hotel lobby until I woke up because they had already been awake for hours! It was only 7:45! Haha
I packed up my stuff and they drove me to Unicoi Gap, after kindly stopping at Hardee’s so I could get an egg and cheese biscuit (or three, don’t judge me..). We hugged bye, for the final time, and Jon took our picture. Her AT journey was complete now, day one of “after trail life” had begun for her, and it scares me a little.. because that day is quickly coming for me, too. I started up the relatively steep Blue Mountain as they pulled away, honking and waving to me as they went. They were in for a 9 hour road trip home after they stopped back by the hotel and loaded their belongings.
I took my time up Blue Mountain, finally posting a couple of the previous journal entries that I haven’t gotten a chance to upload-this time wasn’t because of lack of service, it was simply because I was spending every second I could with my friend and was too sleepy to attempt it last night after dinner. The uploading of pictures and journal entries distracted me from the climb itself, since I couldn’t attempt to hike fast while messing around on my phone.
Before I got to the top, I ended up in my rain gear.. cold creeping in on my hands and legs, and little spritzes of rain here and there, but the rain was only during that climb. When I did make it to the top, I felt successful-the blog was updated AND the hard part of the day was completed! From there the trail was mostly downhill and meandering. I still had a lot of miles to cover, so I tried to keep my pace up by listening to my marathon running playlist.
It was cold enough to keep me in my rain gear throughout the day, and in my fleece and gloves, too. The weather app claimed it would start pouring by 4, then not until 6, and then not until 9pm! Talk about getting lucky! I mean, I was hiking in a cloud all day, so their were no views, and I was cold, but I wasn’t wet AND cold. That’s really the important thing. It could always be worse. And with the dampness and the mist, the leaves were shimmering and the trees were looming overhead, I felt like I was walking through a movie scene.
I knew all day that I had a bailout spot if I was too cold and miserable to continue.. I could stop hiking and get picked up at 15.8 miles at Tesnatee Gap, or I could hike another 6 miles to Neels Gap.. if I went to Neels Gap, I was under the impression of more options for sleeping inside. With the rain coming overnight and continuing all night and all day tomorrow, I knew I wanted to be inside, warm and dry no matter what, and then would suck up the rain tomorrow-but probably get to another hostel at Woody Gap or Gooch Gap, depending on how far I got today. If I stopped early today, I’d have to hike farther tomorrow in the rain or push it off to my last day before the approach trail-which made me nervous. I didn’t want anything to happen to make finishing Saturday a problem.
So, when I got to Tesnatee Gap at 3:50pm, I was anxious about knocking out 6 more miles.. knowing I’d be hiking the last bit in the dark more than likely. I started calling places for a bed for the night. I called the cabins at Neels Gap-they’re apparently closed on Wednesdays. Weird. I called the store at Neels Gap because they had a hostel listed on GutHook-the man politely told me that they didn’t open the hostel this year, but I could camp out back for free. Crap. I don’t want to camp in the rain!
Last but not least, I called a bed and breakfast, Your Home In The Woods. Mrs. Bonnie answered and said she had room for me, and that I should text her husband Paul when I’m close to confirm a pick up time.. she’d be at church, and if I didn’t text him, he’d be sitting at Neels Gap waiting for me by 6:30, just in case I lost service and couldn’t update him. Wow. Talk about kindness.
I made it up and over Cowrock Mountain, Wolf Laurel Top, and Levelland Mountain in decent time, which had me walking into Neels Gap and Mountain Crossings stone building at exactly 6:30pm. I was shocked I had made it when I said I would, and managed to not need my headlamp yet-although I was probably about 10-15 minutes from its use being a requirement. I took a picture of the Shoe Tree.. the tree full of shoes hikers toss up, either in victory for Southbounders almost done, or in defeat for northbounders deciding to call it quits. Personally, I think it’s more of the latter-because I know I wasn’t throwing my shoes up there with more than 30 miles to go to the end..
As I snapped the picture of the shoe tree, Paul greeted me warmly and then let me load into his truck. He gave me a homemade lemon scone to munch on while he drove me to his home in Blairsville, only 15-20 minutes from where he picked me up. While he drove he pointed out things in the area, gorgeous views of the valleys and the pops of color showing off on some of the mountainsides.
I got a grand tour of he and Bonnie’s gorgeous home nestled in the woods. Then, he took me to my private room, with a private bathroom too! He told me dinner would be ready in about an hour, and that another hiker was here, too. He knew we had both heard of each other but hadn’t officially met yet-and I was excited to finally get the chance to meet the Sundae I’ve heard all about over the last 2 months! Lizard had hiked with her awhile, and so had Towelie and other friends, too! But, I didn’t let my excitement of meeting her slow down the chance of a hot shower, right now. Meeting new friends would have to wait until dinner.
I showered and dressed in my clean sleep clothes (thanks to TownLegs yesterday for letting me get everything washed while I wore her non hiker clothes), and then made my way to the dinner table. I finally met Sundae, and immediately saw why everyone adored her! She’s funny and open and a complete joy to be around. We never had a dull moment, between her, me, and Paul, conversation was ongoing and pleasant. Mrs. Bonnie ended up joining us at the tail end of our dinner, because she was at church for Wednesday night bible study.
Paul made us an incredible dinner: vegetarian chili with white rice, biscuits, and fresh salad. We all talked and ate, and then Sundae and I continued to talk and eat even more. Such a phenomenal home cooked meal, surrounded by wonderful people. Eventually, at almost 9pm, we retreated to our beds after determining a time to get up and get a move on in the morning. Sundae would be getting to Springer Mountain Shelter tomorrow night, and then wait to summit until Friday morning, when her dad got there to meet her! He will get to the parking lot and then hike the mile uphill to the shelter and they’ll do the summit and the 8.8 miles of the approach trail together.
As I was walking to my room, Paul let me know that he and Mrs. Bonnie would have room for me to stay tomorrow night too, since it’s going to be raining all night tonight and all day tomorrow.. which then, he said, “you could slack pack tomorrow, if that’s something you’d be interested in..” if only he knew I’m basically the slack pack Queen these days.. hahaha! I happily squealed a yes that made him laugh. Why wouldn’t I want to slack pack over Blood Mountain tomorrow when it’s going to be pouring on me all day and never get over 46 degrees?! I’m giggling still thinking about how the Unpolished Princess grew up to be the Slack Pack Queen! Hysterical, really.
Now, laying here I’m both happy and sad. I’m thrilled I’ll be done in three days, while also sad over the same thought. I won’t miss the cold or the rain, but I think I am going to miss this trail, this community, this freedom from the normal day to day life. Don’t get me wrong, I’m looking forward to some of that normal life, too. But I think the trail is something that calls to you-and then never quite stops. I guess we will see..
Goodnight, y’all.
So awesome!