Over the Mountians and through the woods!

As usual I was up with the sun.  The night is sure dark in the woods.  One of the SB hikers decided to stay in the shelter while the other, the owner of the dog, set up his tent.  I didn't do much for breakfast but I did make a cup of coffee and enjoyed it even if it was instant.  The dog owner was up and we talked just a little and I mention that I had planned to hike to the next shelter and back today but changed my mind.  Not sure I could do it  (12 miles) in one day and did not want to stay for two more days.

Sage was up and talking about trying to find a shuttle from the dam to Cherokee for a mail drop.  If she did not make it to New Found Gap, in the Smoky, on time she would have to wait until Monday.  I volunteered to give her a ride if she could not get a shuttle.  She took off a little ahead of me but I'm sure she made it to the dam hours before I did. (I forgot to ask).

I thought I would make better time going back but I was mistaking.  It was just as tough going down hill as it is going up.  I only cut about thirty minutes off my time.  I didn't have to rest as often or as long but it was still rough.

Arriving at the dam, I saw a day hiker that came by the shelter a while before I left this morning and he told me a young lady was asking about Two Stix.  We walked to the VC parking lot together where our vehicles were parked.  Driving around toward the VC I spotted Sage and gave here the ride to Cherokee.  On the way I learned that she was only seventeen!  The day before she just said "between junior and senior year,"  and I just assumed college. She did not talk or act like a high school girl and she diffidently has it all together. Her plan is to do 1,600 miles before school starts.  Good luck, Sage!

I enjoyed the drive to Cherokee and helping Sage with a little trail magic in advance of my hike next year.  After dropping her off at the Post Office I headed over the mountain toward Knoxville to get in as many miles on my homeward drive as possible.  It was a neat drive through the park, but, the views were limited because of the trees.  I made it to Kingston, TN for the night and after checking into the motel I went out and got a Papa Johns pizza and brought it back to my room.  1,800 miles from here to home and three days are my plans.

"Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right."    - Henry Ford (1863-1947)