What is going on?
As I finished sucking wind and continued getting wet all I could think about was how much money I would pay to eat at Subway within the next hour or three miles, (which ever came first) dreaming about double meat and cheese on a toasty warm bread as the rain seemed to relentlessly come down out of the sky. Thus far (450 miles more or less) things have gone quite smoothly. The weather has been more than agreeable, the hiking has been lovely, the company more than I could ask for, and the trail has been full of magic and great moments.
(Back track 2 or 3 days) Upon arriving into town a few days back near Roan Mountain, TN I thought it might be a goo idea to have as much milkshake as I wanted at Bob’s Dairyland. Well it turns out that I wanted 48 oz worth of Peanut Butter Chocolate. (I wasn’t satisfied with the meager 16 oz portion I had gotten with my meal…) So after pounding nearly 50 oz of Bob’s delicious milkshake I was feeling great and ready to head back to camp and take on the trail. Needless to say I did not feel that way the next day. After rolling out of my hammock with what seemed the equivalent of the Tasmanian Devil in my stomach, I decided I might be taking a zero day whether I liked it or not. Ha. I proceeded to have the runs and within fifteen seconds of swallowing a single bite of apple I also had the ralphs, what I like to call a little R&R. So after moving approximately 300 yards (mostly to my unfortunate rock in the woods I dubbed my bathroom) in an entire day (not a good thing) I was feeling less than healthy so I choose to call it an early day and go to bed at 7 p.m. in an attempt to sleep it off. Luckily for me my sick day was a beautiful day void of rain.
The next day I awoke feeling like a hundred bucks! Great I thought I get to hike again! So I cranked out 18 miles no problem. Which brings me to today after hiking another 15 or 16. I came off the mountain ready to eat anything that looked kind of like food (hoping for a Subway). So I walked to the parking lot for the Cherokee National Forest and started to hitch, which usually works about 50% in the rain… (sympathy vs. GROSS) A nice fellow named Tony picked me up with 15 minutes, not a bad wait by any means. Proceeded to the P.O. in Hampton to realize it was closed at 2 p.m. I was confused at why it would be closed at such an hour until Tony brought it to my attention that today is in fact Sunday, and Mother’s Day at that. Wait… MOTHER’S DAY! I quickly realize I have to call my mom… after I eat something huge, because I may implode from hunger rumblings. Turns out there is in fact a Subway at the end of town, I’m in luck! So after stuffing my face with bread meat and cheese, with a variety of other things that I love that have been severely lacking in my now normal diet, I realize my cell phone is dead and to top that I have no charger, since I was relying on others in my hiking party that is now unknown amount of days behind. So I borrow the Subway phone and call my mom, she laughs. All is well, except what am I going to do in this city or town more like where I need to be one more day and know just about nothing about. No more than five minutes after hanging up the phone with my mom (happy mom’s day everyone) a guy in a big red truck rolls up and a couple of hikers hop out with him and walk in the Subway. He walks right up to me and says, “Where you headed?” I mentioned I was just trying to figure that very thing out. He mentioned he had a hostel for ten bucks a night and would drive me there. I extended my hand in a gratitude that wet, tired, and dirty hikers/travelers have come to know and love. Thanks God I thought as I half laughed out loud.
So that brings me to now, having been at the hostel for about a solid two hours now. I got a shower today. A real shower. The first real shower since Gatlinburg, TN, which has to be at least 200 miles ago. I am unsure If you have ever gone a week or maybe two without a shower. After two weeks though your appreciation for hot water coming out of a faucet in the wall exponentially increases. Ha. It was so so nice.
Pictures and Video may turn up before the next 1,700 something miles, but until then use your imagination.
Yours Truly,
Wild Bill
