Trail Letter 2: 3/13

Today was a “zero” day – one when you hike 0 miles and give the body time to recoup. We did 8.9 miles anyway, partially on accident. We missed a campsite and ended up… in North Carolina! We’ve made it through GA in 6 days.

Last night when I was filling out the Cloud9 Hostel form, I put “NAMELESS” in the blank, so Crutch took that to be my trail name. Trail names seem awkward to me yet – it’s weird to call Dave “Feezel” and Bird “Bigfoot”. Slow Barbara pointed out that she earned much more trail recognition when she added the “Slow” to her name. I’m enjoying the idea of being unnamed, a nobody, an everybody, just another hiker — but if I get the urge for noteriety, I’m sure a trail name will find me. After all, I am a part of the legendary “Tennessee Studs.” How much more fame could one want?

We went to Hiawassee today for a resupply, relaxed in the Jacuzzi, then hit the trail. When I hitched back from town, a retired postal service worker gave me a lift to The Blueberry Patch, where I had a mail drop. It was also there where I met, to the best of my recollective ability, the first black hiker I’ve ever seen. He gave me a lift back to Cloud9 and said he was starting a thru in a month or so.

Tonight Bigfoot accidentally threw a $10 bill in the campfire before quickly retrieving it. Too late, hah, because all that’s left is A. Hamilton’s mugshot in a singed frame.

Weather’s been perfect – the sky is so very clear at night.