We left Franklin on a morning shuttle provided by the motel, and put in decent mileage, coming in to a camp area pretty late with a thunderstorm coming in. We were very surprised to find that there was still room in the shelter and got under cover just before the sky really let loose.
By this point we knew probably half of the hikers staying in the shelter so it is a little less strange to be in such close quarters with them overnight.
Relatively clean, dry, flat surfaces are a rarity and a pleasure.
The next day we pushed hard across some terrain that was pretty rough, because we knew the Nantahala Outdoor Center was about 16 miles away and we wanted badly to make it before 7PM so we could eat at their restaurant. It rained several separate times that day but never with more than moderate intensity so we didn't get that wet under the gear.
Very happy to arrive, numerous valuable facilities right on the trail otherwise in the middle of nowhere.
Arrived at 6:20 but tons of people came in after us - didn't have to rush or feel guilty.
Hot dinner one doesn't have to carry, prepare, or clean up after - yes please. I think it would have tasted quite good if we weren't famished but it tasted really really good after 16 rainy miles.
The office for the bunkhouses was closed but a hiker let us have two extra bunks in his room for free.
Ana had had some pain in her back and hip that was getting us pretty worried, but the next morning at the outfitter's some really experienced staff members refitted her backpack, which was apparently compressing her sciatic nerve. They said she could either wait 2-3 days to find out if that was the problem, or walk for 2-3 hours and see if it hurt more or less, so she said walk and we did 14 miles up and out of the valley. No further pain, so thanks guys at the NOC outfitters!
Weather got nice after the NOC too.
Ran into a section hiker named "180" and family at Stecoah gap late that day, providing free snacks and other goodies, we ate a bunch and thanked them kindly. Sounds like they hike during the day and do "trail magic", as such unexpected kindness is called, in the evenings. Camped half a mile further up the trail, nice dry night with reasonable temperatures.
Getting close to the Smokies at this point, had some nice views because it wasn't raining.
Terrain coming out of the NOC was pretty rough and doing back to back 14-mile days over it took it out of us. Luckily, the fine folks at the Hike Inn in Fontana do an evening shuttle for through hikers to the nearest civilization and we got Mexican food that was actually some of the best I've had at a place called Pacifico.
Still walking, will be on the NC/TN border for the next while. Hopefully we'll find some good BBQ along the way!
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