Mar 11

DAY #9
START LOCATION: Deep Gap Shelter
FINISH LOCATION: Dicks Creek Gap/Hiawassee, GA
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 3.5
TRIP MILEAGE: 67.5
MILES TO GO: 2,111.6

I awoke to Swifties deflating air mattress. I could have set my watch
to it... 7AM on the dot. There was a blanket of soupy fog and drizzle.
When we hit the trail at 8:30, it was full in rain. No worries though,
we only had a 3.5 mi downhill to Dicks Creek Gap where we picked up
our shuttle into Hiawassee... The golden city.

We arrived at Dicks Creek at 10:00 and look who is getting out of the
shuttle bus... Fynious, Slo Mo, Sugarbush, Death March and the dog.
Fynious I expected to see, but Slo Mo who thought he had to go to St
Louis, only needed to get to a fax machine. So it was great to see he
was back so Sion. It was a fast reunion as they were leaving Hiawassee
and we were arriving... And the same shuttle van driver for them gave
Lodestone & I a ride to Mull's Motel in Hiawassee. Perfect.

I showered... Snow, mud and grease poured down the drain. I did
laundry at the 'mat. Hit the AYCE Buffet and absolutely wrecked that
place... For a paltry $8.40 including tip, I ate: salad, liver &
onions, sauerkraut, sausage, peas-n-carrots, fried chicken, mashed
potatoes and gravy, black eyed peas, two buttered dinner rolls, a
slice of chocolate frosted pound cake, a bowl of pudding and three
glasses of coke. I repeat... $8.40. Best lunch ever.

Uploaded pics, checked my bills and checked the weather. Resupplied at
Ingles supermarket and then had salad, brisket, sliced pork, fried
corn on the cob, baked beans and two High Lifes at the BBQ joint near
the motel for dinner. I listed out my meals today to give you an idea
of what 'resupply day' is like on the AT. Call it 'eat your ass off
day' more like. Life is good.

Hoping I'll see Swiftie & Research tomorrow... They spent the day at a
hostel outside town. More rain thru the 15th, but Im ready. GA nearly
complete in about 10 miles... Bring on North Carolina baby.

-nate•dog