Mar 16

DAY #14
START LOCATION: Rock Gap Shelter
FINISH LOCATION: Winding Stair Gap/Franklin, NC
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 3.8
TRIP MILEAGE: 107.7
MILES TO GO: 2,071.4

I was up at 5:30 AM starting to pack up my tent. Hollywood, Scruffy,
Sofa King and I had to be out of Rock Gap by 7:15AM if we were going
to make our 9AM shuttle at Winding Stair Gap for the ride into
Franklin, NC. This hike was a 3.8 miler with a climb, so time was of
the essence. I gave the three a 6AM wakeup call and sure enough we
rolled out at about 7:20 under barely enough light to hike. The
thought of steak burritos propelled us. We had a good clip and made it
to Winding Stair Gap within minutes of the arriving shuttle.

After the 10 mile drive to Franklin, the sun was coming out and it was
getting warm. We got rooms and then killed the first priority upon
motel arrival... Shower. Off to the laundry room where Hollywood and I
basked in the warm sunshine while our clothes got clean. By noon-
thirty, he, Scruffy and I were at Mia Casa. Hollywood had a steak
burrito there on a section hike a year ago and we all gave it a go. It
was huge. And no lie, we had it done before our waitress came to ask
how we were doing.

In the afternoon, I headed to the library to upload pics. It was a
long haul away and I had limited time there so I didn't get a chance
to organize the photos. The days are right, but in the slideshow
above, the pics are out of order within the days. No matter.

I hit up the local outfitter on the way to the library... Needed a new
fuel canister and another glove layer. My wool gloves were a bit thin
and they won't fly in the Smokies... Now a week away. Resupplied at
the Ingles Supermarket and Dollar General next door... Much faster
than in Hiawassee. I'm really targeted in the grocery store now that I
know what I like and need to eat.

Evening brought us (and added Wide Load) to Cody's Roadhouse for
dinner. We thought it was AYCE, but were disappointed. We still had
a good time and I got full again on salad, soup and a bacon
cheeseburger.

Caught up with SloMo today (now known as Slackimus). He'd come in late
in the day. He filled me in on his off trail paperwork.., thought he'd
need to leave for St. Louis, but was able to handle everything via fax
in Hiawassee. Great to see him back and we chatted up the really cool
things we're experiencing on this hike.

In for the night, I enjoyed a nice 24oz tall one id got at the
supermarket. Made my last checkin phone calls and packed up the gear.
It's off to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (www.noc.com) in about 3 days
hike. There I'll get my first food maildrop as there's not much store
to speak of. Let's go Smokies baby.

-n8dog

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