LOG FOR 19 MAR UPDATE
AND TO CHERRY LOG SHELTER (notes)
l'Ann,
Yes, my trail name is "Castanets". The story is this: When the girls used to ask me to dance with them, I'd always ask, "With or without castanets?" So last Christmas, Sara bought me a real set of castanets she picked up when she was in Spain for a visit. Needless to say, I was so overcome with emotion that I could think of no better way to commemorate the occasion than to use it as my trail name. Actually, Nikki and Aim say it is a fitting name as castanets are the only instrument I can play with any proficiency.
I'm sitting here at Standing Bear Farm Hiker Hostel just over the NC-TN border with the the computer keyboard on a small shelf with the monitor, and the mouse pad is on the washing machine next to the monitor-keyboard shelf. You won't believe a picture of this when I put it on the hikerjim.com web site. The shed I am in is a double-wide outhouse with a washer-dryer and dial-up Internet connection. Charming, and surprising that there is any Internet here at all - and convenient that I can be washing and drying my clothes while I am typing away on the computer. The agitation from the washing machine moves my mouse all over the place. I have to time my mouse movements to the washing machine agitator and spin cycles. All the comforts of home.
I'm sending you this note before putting my clothes in the dryer. All my clothes were so stinky that I had to wash then twice to get the smell out.
It seems most of the older folks hiking the trail are from up in New England. I've spent time hiking with Rambling Rose (David Rose) whose family owns an equestrian training center near Monson, ME; then Bill Lemensies (business man from New Hampshire who manufactures large scale integration chip substrates) and last night at the Smokey Mountain Cosby Knob Shelter (my last night in the Smokies) a group of five men from Providence, Rhode Island who are in a reading group and plan to spent their hike through the Smokies discussing three books they read before their hike start - a great group of guys who built camp fires, smoked Spanish Cigars, drank brandy, and discussed their book selections till late at night. Who would have thought there would have been these types of guys hiking the trail at the same time I was. And today, I ran into a kayaker here who wears a canvas kilt....... They say you have to travel to see the sights.....
Need to tell you this story... While I was hitching a ride out of Gatlinburg, TN at 6:30 AM this past Sat, an elderly man walked up to me and asked me my name. (I should tell you that I had been trying to hitch a ride for what seemed like an hour on the cold streets.) When I told him my name, he asked what I was doing and I gave him my story, telling him that I needed a 12 mile ride up the mountain to Newfound Gap to continue my hike. He then asked me if I minded if he said a prayer for me and my journey - and I responded that I wouldn't mind if he prayed for me. He then took off his hat, placed his hand on my shoulder and asked the Lord for help and a safe journey. He then said he would pray for me in his congregation on Sunday and departed down the darkened street. Approximately 5 minutes later, a gentleman in a large van stopped by and asked me if I needed a lift up the mountain......... You take it from here......
Regards,
Jim
Cherry Log Shelter Notes:
Fnally got access again to the one computer here again this morning before I leave for Cherry Gap Shelter (15 miles). Hope to make it to Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel in two days. Today will be a significant climb from 1700' up to 4000' (shelter is at 3900) feet. Just to give you and idea of the look of the shelter http://www.tehcc.org/CherryGapShelter.htm
Beautiful hike from Spivey Gap to Nolichucky River near Erwin, Tennessee - a hike of 11 miles through some of the most beautiful hemlock forest - ground covered with small hemlock needles so walk was mostly through paths covered with soft needles and rocks were moss covered. I passed by the No Business Knob Shelter, but didn't stop yesterday http://www.tehcc.org/nobusinessknob.htm. It was a 4 mile hike up to the shelter and then a 7 mile walk down hill to the Nolichucky River near Erwin, TN. Ms. Janet shuttled "Golf", "Rock Man" and me to town. Golf and I are staying at Ms. Janet's House http://www.ils.unc.edu/~bollj/gallery/at06/IMG_0219 for the night and will probably hike together to Cherry Gap Shelter together today. I thought I's send you a link to the unique planters around Miss Janet's House http://www.ils.unc.edu/~bollj/gallery/at06/IMG_0220
26 Apr 2007