March 30 & 31 - 12.7 / 163.7 miles

Yesterday was another rough day when it came to my shin. At 5.2 miles, we came to the first road crossing. I came down the mountain to the road and was in some pretty good pain. Will let me borrow a wrap bandage that he had. I wrapped that around my shin and it helped some. People began to leave the road crossing and hike on. I was one of the last to leave knowing my shin was going to slow me down. For the next few hours I hiked by myself. Not that, that is a problem. I usually am quick enough to either pass others or will leapfrog with others during the day.

I could see Fontana Lake for the last few hours of the day as I came down toward Fontana Dam. You would think that it would be a quick hike in once you could see it, but I felt like the trail took you over some extra mountains before coming down to the road. I made it to the road around 2:30, and there was only one guy there. He was going to wait for the shuttle into the Fontana Resort. I hiked on the additional mile to the "Fontana Hilton." The Fontana Hilton is a 24 person shelter with some showers in the bathrooms down the road from the dam. It is nothing spectacular other than being larger than the 6 to 7 person shelters I am accustomed to seeing. Remember that shelters are pretty much just rat infested, 3 walled buildings to put your head under. Half the time they leak anyway.

Once I got to the shelter, I realized no one else was there. After getting a few voice mails I figured they had all hitched into the resort to resupply. I rested for a few minutes, spoke with two hikers who were just stopping by before hiking an additional 6 miles to a campsite, and then grabbed my stuff and started walking the mile back to the shuttle shop. As I was walking back, I saw some other hikers who stayed at the shelter the night before. They all had groceries already, and the shuttle that had dropped them off had left. Not pleased, I continued on my mile trek. I got to the shuttle stop, which is pretty much a parking lot, and waited. As no cars came by for a few minutes I walked a little ways further to the road. I waited again and a few cars passed, but none of them wanted to stop and pick me up. Finally an SUV came down the street and slowed to a stop. Another older couple asked where I was going. I mentioned I needed a ride to the resort. They said they had just come from there and were heading the opposite way. A part of me wanted to ask them, "Why even stop if you aren't going to take me the 2 or so miles to the resort?" They moved on. A few minutes later a truck pulled up with a park ranger inside. He too asked where I was going. I told him the resort. He told me he was going to the opposite direction and had to be somewhere by 4:30 (or some time). Therefore, he too could not give me a ride. Again, "Why even stop to ask where I am going?" As he was pulling away, a guy in a pick up truck with trash in the back pulled through the parking lot to the normal shuttle spot. I hobbled to where he could hear me and yelled asking for a ride. He stuck his head out the window and asked where to. I told him the resort. He told me wasn't the shuttle (obviously, you have a truck load of trash bags). However, he offered me a ride since he was going to the resort anyway. Fontana has it set up to where a shuttle will come get you for $3 and take you to and from the resort and the trail. It is a pretty good set up.

We began our journey to the resort. This is when I saw the 6 others I had been hiking with getting out of their ride. They had already gone into the resort to resupply. A little frustrated I continued on to the resort. I was dropped off and walked to the General Store. I get down to the store and realize it is closed for the evening. Craig (River Dog), a guy I had met earlier in the day who also graduated from UT, was finishing up his laundry. He too had shin problems just a few days ago. He had some friends come pick him up at the NOC, drive him to Knoxville for a few zero days and R&R, and then drive him back to the NOC. We discussed my shin problems and the loads of food he had received in his mail drop. He also offered a beer which I gladly accepted. He finished his laundry, and we started to make the trek to the resort office to get a shuttle back to the dam. Then all of a sudden the guy who picked me up in the trash truck drove by. I whistled for him to stop. He did a quick u-turn and came back to where we were. I told him we needed a ride back to the damn. He said he couldn't do it since he had some other jobs to do, but he could give us a ride to the resort check in to call. We jumped in the back, less garbage, and rode up the hill. As we were getting out of the bed of the truck, an older couple were walking to their car. I gave them the puppy dog face and asked if we could get a ride. At first they were hesitant, but then told us to get in the back of their SUV. During the ride I found out they had actually give Craig a ride to the resort.

The couple's daughter went to UT for a short time so that gave us something to talk about for the next few minutes. The couple dropped us off at the dam, and I went down to the shelter. I made my dinner, ramen noodles, and then went and met Dark Star, Stickerbush, Danger Mouse, Jilie, Skylar (now going by Skywalker), and Big Mike (Ukraine Mike). They had walked up a hill a little ways from the shelter. We hung out for a while until the moon came out. The moon and stars last night were amazing. We all decided that we would cowboy camp and not stay in the shelter. Cowboy camping is just throwing your sleeping bag on the ground, less tent, and sleeping under the stars. At first, I thought it was a great idea. That was until I woke up this morning with dew on my sleeping bag. Getting a down sleeping bag wet is not a good thing. It loses its warmth factor.

Once I got motivated to get up, I got out of my sleeping bag and packed up my stuff. Craig and I headed back to the road while the others got ready for the trail. Craig needed to come back to the post office to mail some stuff back home. As we waited for the shuttle, the others made it up the hill. We all said our goodbyes, and we made plans for me to catch back up with them in the next few days. Danger Mouse's grandmother lives in Knoxville so they are planning on staying with her for a day or two. Before they rolled on, someone mentioned that "Wildman" (the guy with the self tattoos and machete) showed up at the shelter this morning. I don't what time or how he got there, but he was there. For all I know, he hiked through the night. I heard all that he had was a grapefruit.

Craig and I eventually made it to the resort. I checked out the General Store as he went to the post office. I then went to the post office to see if the package my mom mailed had arrived yet. She is having a shin splint wrap sent to me. It had not come in yet. I told Craig I would catch up with him later and walked to the resort check in. I got a room for the night in order to rest my leg and ice it. The rest of the day was spent laying in bed with an elevated leg. Every once in awhile, I would come to the general computer in the lobby to check emails as my phone does not get service here. I walked outside to enjoy the wonderful weather. This is where I met Warren and Susan. They are from outside of mobile and are here for Susan's birthday. They were a very nice couple, and we spoke for quite awhile. He is in his 70's and mentioned that he once thought about hiking the trail. I told him he should as there are plenty of people in their late 60's or 70's hiking. He told me he would be happy just to hike from Springer to Fontana Dam. However, he would want to be picked up at road crossing so he isn't having to carry all his stuff. It is possible, but there are some places where roads are less frequent around the GA/NC state line.

I kept playing the room and computer game for the remainder of the afternoon. While at the computer, I met some other hikers I had seen at NOC. I asked if they were eating dinner at the resort's restaurant. I ended up meeting them. It was Skidmark, Mexico (pronounced Mec-E-Co), Menno (based on Mennonite), and Dopplar (a guy in his 30's who was a Air Force weather forecaster prior to hiking). I didn't ask about Skidmark's name origin. We ate dinner, and I downed another beer, a huge hamburger, and fries. During dinner, Skidmark and Dopplar ended up making a bet on who was the better putt-putt golfer. As I am typing this blog, they walked by in their warm gear, headlamps, and putt-putt equipment. The challenge is on at the resort's golf course. I'll try to find out who wins.

As I wrap up this blog, I have a sad note to pass one. Bucksnort, one of the oldest gentlemen on the trail this year, fell and broke his leg yesterday. Skidmark and Dopplar actually passed him after it happened. Bucksnort is a genuine guy, and many people had come to get to know him over the last few weeks. Every time I had passed him on the trail, he was always upbeat even though he was going at a slow pace. The last I had spoke with him was two days ago; he had stopped on the trail to take a photo of a tree that had fallen. We spoke briefly, and I moved on. Hopefully he can make a quick recovery even though his age is against him on that. Perhaps he can recover soon enough to get back on the trail and get a few more miles in before the hiking season is over. Maybe he will flip-flop and start up north and hike south in order to hike later in the fall/winter.

Tomorrow, I plan to wait at the post office. Once my shin wrap gets in, I am going to hit the Smokies. My plan is to make it the 42 miles to Newfound Gap in three days. This will depend on my shin and what time I actually make it out tomorrow. Supposedly UPS, doesn't deliver to the post office until 1 or 2. Newfound Gap is the only place where a road goes through the Smokies. I hope to get there before the others leave Knoxville and head on out of the Smokies. Until then, thanks for all the well wishes on the shin. It does feel better after a days rest and ice.

Night, BowTie.