Today I pooped for the first time in the woods. Should I just stop the blog there? As we broke down camp, a fellow hiker’s dog befriended me and I sat with her before we left. That was all the motivation I needed to get me to Unicoi Gap. It was a 10 mile day to get picked up and taken to a motel where we will zero the next day. This sounds like the dream if it hadn’t been for the fact that I am completely sunburnt. Hiking with 30 pounds on your back while sunburnt is not as soothing as you would think. Thank God for my long sleeve shirt. It may be a little warm, but better than straps cutting into my sunburn. Simon has now been dubbed, Disco Fries. You might be asking yourself, why would we call him this. Here’s why... Trail names are a right of passage for an AT thruhiker. It is a nickname that you are given for something that happens while on trail. This gives you your new name. I look at it as shedding part of your identity while you hike. It was a relatively flat walk for the first 5 miles and then some ups and downs. My Achilles’ tendon was bothering me so I was going a little slower today. Hopefully resting will help that heal. We got a ride from a motel employee named Bob who drove us to Hiawassee. After a warm shower, our minds were only on food. To Taco Bell we go. Because of corona virus they only had a drive thru window.
“Hi! We don’t have a car but will you still take our order?” I ask very cheerfully.
The lady stares at me for a while and then says “I mean I guess”....oh the judgement. But honestly who cares! We got Taco Bell and that’s literally all that matters. Danny bought two full meals and devoured both with no hesitation. As we get ready to sleep in our warm motel bed, we passed out to the sounds of a dude next door screaming Tennessee Whiskey to his 3 adoring thru hiker fans.
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