April 5
End: Erwin, TN
Miles: 16.9
Total: 2195.4
Looking forward to putting in a lot more miles on the trail, I hit the ground walking from my bunk up top in the shelter, while everyone else was still asleep in their bags.
I came down off of Bald Mountain and did a lot of downhill half-jogging. I kept expecting to hit a major climb, but that only happened once or twice. Most of the trail was well graded and easy climbing.
Passing up No Business Knob Shelter, I started thinking about my upcoming decision concerning going into Erwin. Lake had not recommended Uncle Johnny’s Hostel, but staying there seemed like a good way to get a ride into town.
Dark clouds seemed to be moving into the area, and I knew that if it rained and I got soaked I would be miserable. A great way to wait out the rain would be to pig out in town, but I didn’t necessarily need to resupply my trail food.
Finally I opted to try and get a ride into town. As I looked down on Erwin from above, I felt that I was very close, but that soon faded as I descended the thousand switchbacks leading down to the road.
Eventually I arrived at the road and visited Uncle Johnny’s briefly to talk to other hikers. Uncle Johnny wanted five bucks to take me to KFC, but I passed on that. I opted to start walking and try to hitch.
Immediately outside the hostel, a car came and I stuck out my thumb. Success! I winked at the other hikers as if this type of thing happened to me all the time, and hopped in. I got a ride to the north side of town, and walked into a Mexican restaurant.
I think all Mexican restaurants on the East coast print their menus at the same place, because I had the same thing I used to get in Virginia when I was in high school. From there I forged on to a Little Caesar’s Pizza, and then grabbed some groceries. Content, I headed for McDonald’s.
A couple hundred yards from the golden arches, it started to rain. I hurried up and got there just in time. I sat down and watched the downpour outside, supremely content.
Once the monsoon died down, I started my walk back towards the trail, but was preempted by a guy offering me a ride. We stopped at the post office, then he dropped me off at Uncle Johnny’s.
I hung out with Mailbox, Spiderman, Motown, and a few other hikers I had met before. When it started to rain I accepted Mailbox’s offer to sleep in his rented cabin. We had a good time, albeit a late night. I wasn’t too thrilled about the other hikers’ herb usage, but it was pouring outside and I didn’t want to leave. Finally I got to bed, planning to leave early the next morning.
