Day twelve

Friday March 10, 2017

The storm arrived sometime during the night. The first indication of the approaching storm was the wind, howling through the trees high above me. Then the flash of lightning followed a few seconds later by the rumble of far off thunder. The interval between lightning and thunder grew shorter as the storm rumbled up the valley, until a brilliant flash was followed instantaneous by a Crack and boom. Then the rains arrived, torrential at times, lashing and whipping against my tent. But through the storm my tent never rolled or pitched a single time. I took no white water over my bow. I slept snug, secure, and dry inside my sleeping bag. By first light the storm had past.

I was back on the trail again about 8:00 A.M. The only remnant of last night’s storm was a cold harsh wind and the damp. I hiked the first part of the morning through dense fog or more accurately clouds. Visibility no more than a hundred yards. The wind blew the clouds over the hills and they tore and snagged on the bare tree limbs around me. It was eerie but also beautiful. The cold damp wind cut right to the bone. By mid morning there were pockets of sun breaking through the fog. As I worked my way down Powell Mountain towards Dicks Creek Gap the trail would occasionally bend around the lee side of the mountain, out of the wind. When one of these lee trail segments coincided with one of the pockets of sun, it was as if Mother Nature was giving me a big warm hug.

By 10:30 I had worked my way down to Dicks Creek Gap. And what awaited me at the Gap? TRAIL MAGIC! Angels were set up and serving bacon and eggs, plus dognuts to all hikers. So while I waited for my ride into Hiawassee I enjoyed a magical breakfast.

I am now in a room at the Hiawassee Budget Inn and I do mean budget. But the room is warm and the water hot, so that is all that I require. I was even able to wash my clothes, so I am good to go. Although I am certainly not going anywhere tonight. The forecast is for a low of 27° tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning I will be back on the trail. This afternoon I walked downtown to an AYCE (all you can eat) restaurant. I’m pretty sure they lost money on me today. And I have two pints of milk chilling on my window sill outside. No ice in this place. I am good!

69.3 miles down      2120.5 miles to go