Today’s Miles: 11.1
Trip Miles: 352.5
“God damn, well I declare, have you seen the like?
Their walls are built of cannon balls
Their motto is “don’t” tread on me”
Come hear Uncle John’s Band, playing to the tide
Come with me or go alone
He’s come to take his children home” – The Grateful Dead
A slight chance of rain showers after 5 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 81, with temperatures falling to around 78 in the afternoon. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Up at 7:15. Got both my slackpack and big pack packed up. Went to the common room for breakfast and checked out of the hostel. Had 2 cups of coffee….woohoo! Headed out on shuttle at 8:30.
Overkill and I got dropped off by Amy at Spivey Gap at 9:00.
Amy took a picture of me and Overkill before saying goodbye. Overkill is the one on the left.
Just 11.1 mostly downhill miles to Erwin with a 1-mile climb at the very start. Should be an easy day.
The things you run into on the trail.
We stopped at 11:30 for a snack and water at No Business Shelter. Making a solid 2 mph.
Ran into the two older guys and their dog who are slackpacking. This is the 6th day in a row I have run into them. They are basing out of Laughing Heart in Hot Springs. Very cool.
Back on the trail at 12:20. Just shy of halfway for the day.
The view down on the river and rail bridge in Erwin reminds me a lot of Harpers Ferry.
Took a nice video of the valley and the town from one mile out.
And a train came through as we were walking by another overlook.
YouTube video of train leaving Erwin.
Made it to Uncle Johnny’s in Erwin, TN at 5:20. Unpacked, got my laundry ready (will do chores tomorrow morning), showered, and borrowed loaner clothes.
Overkill is just here for one night and staying in the bunk house. I’m here two nights and have a nice room with AC and a fridge!
I had two supply boxes waiting for me. One is food/meds and the other is a new pair of shoes. Thank you, Dana! Old on the left and new on the right.
Overkill and I took a shuttle into town at 5:00. Had mediocre Mexican food and picked up some supplies for tonight and breakfast. Shuttled back to hostel at 6:45.
I said goodnight and goodbye to Overkill. She will be leaving early tomorrow. We agreed to keep in touch. Odds are good I catch up with her in 3-5 days.
I spent some time trying to plan my next week on the trail. It’s complicated. The weather looks bad and there is a lot of bear activity in the area I had planned to camp two nights from now. Plus, I need to be somewhere that Dana can pick me up on Thursday evening. Currently, it looks like I will be nowhere near a road Thursday night. Gotta work on all that.
Had a video call with Dana and we tweaked the resupply box she is shipping tomorrow. Thanks, Dana!!
I watched YouTube till 1:00 a.m. and finally fell asleep.
Technical Notes:
- Coffee: 10
- Pop-Tarts: 740
- Coffee: 10
- Snickers: 250
- Cliff Bar: 250
- Snickers: 250
- Pringles: 900
- Burrito: 500
- Steak dinner: 1000
- Seltzers: 700
- Water liters: 3.4
- Miles: 11.1
- Time: 6:15
- Elevation gain: 2934
- Calories consumed: 4800
- Calories burned: 3500
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