Serendipity in a snack machine.

Day 9 - Zero day. We spent the day running, or should I say walking errands. It's amazing how much time it saves to have a car. Everyone (other hikers) was bumping into each other throughout the day. We volunteered Flute Walker to go through our bags and help trim some fat. The longer you are on the trail the more of a game it becomes to carry less weight. She helped us send home an additional 5lbs each. The past week has been a steep learning curve for the two of us. 

Lessons learned; never pass a good water source, always wear your rain pants when it's raining, topographic maps lie, and never wash a goose down sleeping bag. 

As we mailed a box home and a forwarded a box the Bryson City, BJ looked at me and said "It's a process Baby"

Day 10 - Started with a hot hotel breakfast which included ice cold milk that I have been craving. BJ was brave enough to eat two hard boiled eggs. I didn't think anyone ever ate those. Next was to hitch a ride back to the trail. A guy picked Flute up first and about :15 later a Sheriff pulls up and gives us a ride. He threw his rifle in the back and we jumped in. On our lunch break we ran into a guy that owns an outfitter store in Franklin, NC. BJ asked if he sold goose down jackets.  He said he not only had them, but that they were 50% off. The next thing we knew he pulled one from his bag, tossed it to BJ. The jacket fit great. We gave him $50 bucks and literally took the clothes off his back. We hiked a moderate 12 miles today. It was again a day that was dictated by water and a flat spot to sleep. We entered the shelter with a married couple we met the night before from Wisconsin. Walking into Muskrat Creek Shelter a lady yelled "BJ? BJ Romines?". He turns to see Kathleen Wild, Steve Wild's daughter (Retired ATC). She says, "I've been looking for you all week!" What a small world it is. She had been hiking with her dog (Jackson) through NC and had an interesting bear encounter. We setup shop in a hurry to beat the rain. Our friend California staggered in just in time. Flute invited us to eat under her kick butt front porch to stay dry. We are officially out of GA and have started into NC. Our hope is to be in Bryson City, NC in 5 more days to see my sister Haley.