attroll

27 March 12010, Dick's Creek<br />
Last night was extremely windy and when I got up in the middle of the night Rock Steady was busy trying to reset up hit tarp tent in the wind and I could tell he was not having fun doing it. When I got up in the morning his tarp was laying over the top of him flat on the ground.<br />
<br />
This morning was not a fun morning to be packing up and hitting the trail. The wind was blowing at about 35 mph. I could not get my hammock tarp folded and rolled up very easily in the wind. To top that off the temps this morning were low. My fingers kept going numb and I had to keep putting them in my pockets to get them warmed up.<br />
<br />
I ran into Tater who thru hiked in 2000 and was heading up to maintain his section of the trail. We chatted for a few minutes and his dog kept whining because she wanted to keep moving. I said my goodbyes and moved on down the trail.<br />
<br />
Just as I reached the road Rock Steady caught up to me. I was surprise to see Snowman, Escargo, and Charlie waiting for a ride. They made the comment that I was really moving. I told them I was only doing 10 mile days. When the shuttle arrived Trooper jumped out and greeted me. I was hoping to spend a nero day with him but he was heading out. He said he was not going to be stopping in Franklin but was going to be passing through. He said he was going to be picking up a friend that was going to be hiking with him in Gatlinburg. It sounds like I may never see him again.<br />
<br />
I met another Mainer today in Hiawasse who goes by the trail name Gut Hook. He is from Belfast.<br />
<br />
I am in a room by myself tonight, I could not find anyone to share the room with and split the cost.<br />
<br />
News got back to our group that Gipc Girl will be off the trail now for six weeks. She has a broken ankle. It looks like I will not see her again after Franklin. The group is starting to dwindle out now. Who knows who I will be hiking with out of Franklin, it looks like I will be in a whole new group of people.<br />
<br />
I did the usual town visit stuff today, showered, did laundry, and ordered a pizza.<br />
<br />
While talking to other hikers about the trail there one complaint over the last couple of days was how they hated hiking over Kelly Knob. I hiked over it first thing this morning and I did not find it that difficult but then it might be because I hiked it first thing in the morning. I think all the others hiked up it at the end of the day.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow Mad Mike, Geo, Uncas and I will be heading out for Franklin. I will be leaving earlier then the other three because they are only planning on a 4.5 mile day and I am shooting for 11.8. It looks like I will be with a different group of hikers heading into Franklin. We will hook up again in Franklin I am sure.