New and Old Hotels

Day 32
We were the second-to last-hikers to leave the campground that was crowded the night before. It had rained during the night, but I guess everyone was excited to get to Erwin. We hiked down the mountain to Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel and Outfitters where many hikers scatted about the outside pavilion area. We ate a few snacks and talked with some of the other fellow hikers there like Fromage and North Star. As it rained around us, we waited with growing anticipation for Nepsis' parents to arrive. They were on their own road trip and kindly decided to stop by and spend a couple of days with us. Nepsis was grinning when the van pulled up and they whisked us away to the much bigger town of Johnson City to find a place to eat. We hit up the downtown, full of the finest eateries, and settled on Freiberg, a German cuisine restaurant. This restaurant was named after a town that was very near where I used to live in Germany and all the decorations inside reminded me of my time there. Since it was Saturday night, we had to wait awhile to be seated, well past our normal bed time on the Trail. Yawning, we were seated and I thoroughly enjoyed my German beer and schnitzel sandwich on a pretzel bun. After that we drove to a hotel that was way fancier than any place we've stayed on the Trail. It was so fancy there was a continental breakfast I fell asleep dreaming about.      
Miles hike today: 10.7 Total AT miles: 341.5 Total AT miles left to hike: 1843.8
Day 33
We woke up early as if we were still on the Trail and went to breakfast. There was so much to choose from. I was ecstatic to see make-your-own waffles with chocolate chips for a topping. It was also great to have juice and coffee. When the time came we went to a nearby church for an Easter service. We sang and got preached at, but I didn't really respond to the church's service. I should have been able to let my personal knowledge of Christ overwhelm me on this day of remembrance, but I did feel uncomfortable in the setting. After church we went to Little Cesears for lunch, but they were closed so we got Hardees and spent a long time finding a park in which to eat it. Back at the hotel, Nepsis and I blogged on actual computers which was wonderful. We then inventoried the food we had organized back at home for Nepsis' parents to bring us. My mom also sent a box full of candy bars, cookies, and homemade peanut butter balls which made for excellent breakfast for several days. Nepsis' parents then drove us to a Walmart so we could buy a little more food and some nail clippers. Nepsis didn't think the scissors on our Swiss army knife quite cut it. For dinner we went to the Mellow Mushroom which was a funky pizza joint. We got the very tasty Holy Shitake Mushroom pizza. Shortly after arriving back at the hotel we went to sleep.
Day 34
Once again we woke up early to delicious waffles at the continental breakfast. I wrote more of my blog, which seems to be a constant game of catch up. We also just let the hours pass resting. Not that we didn't want to get back on the Trail, we just weren't in any big hurry. We finally packed up our gear, leaving the water reservoir and Nepsis' stocking cap behind. The water reservoir was not needed because water is plentiful on the Trail and usually not very far away. Since Nepsis has a balaclava, she always wears that and has no need for a stocking cap. I was tempted to get rid of a couple cold weather items, but ultimately decided against it. On our way back to the Trail, we stopped by for lunch at Chick-fil-A. It was well past one o'clock when we began hiking again, but we were feeling pretty good. We felt well rested, but not out of touch with the Trail. We hiked on and on all day with few breaks. We finally broke our stride as it was getting dark on top of Unaka Mountain, in the middle of a spruce forest.
Miles hiked today: 14.2 Total AT miles completed: 355.7 Total AT miles left to hike: 1829.6
Day 35
It rained lightly as we hiked off the mountain and when it turned steady we broke out the ponchos, kept our heads down, and hiked on. Nepsis spotted two bright orange newts as we trudged along. As we were coming up a hill to a road at Iron Mountain Gap, Nepsis pointed out a large, creepy, white van with no windows parked there. When we got near a man inside rolled down the window and told us there was trail magic inside. Indeed, another hiker named Silver Stag was sitting inside enjoying snacks, sodas, fruit and a respite from the rain. We joined him and he showed us how to identify ramps. I had read about hikers picking ramps on the Trail, but forgot all about it. Ramps are like a wild leek and you can eat both the leaves and the roots. We hiked on and dug up a few ramps along the way. They were everywhere along the Trail. We passed the official sixth-of-the-way mark on the way to Clyde Smith Shelter. It was supposed to rain during the night so we squeezed into the bottom portion of the shelter even though there was two upper platforms that obviously could fit two people. Each platform was dominated by one person. We made dinner and added the ramps which was nice. Several hikers were also tenting behind the shelter. An older gentleman came up and asked to share one of the upper platforms, but the hikers up there refused him. Apparently a plaque on the wall said this shelter was only supposed to sleep six, but the platforms were obviously put in later and the guidr book said the shelter sleeps ten. Things were very awkward and tense for quite awhile, but finally the older gentleman moved on. I was irate at the two on top and the rest in the shelter for not chiming in. Why be so unaccommodating? Moving over would only be slightly more uncomfortable? And what about respecting elders? As I tried to fall asleep I imagined all kinds of violence against the one most vocal about refusing the man a spot in the shelter.
Miles hiked today: 12.4 Total AT miles completed: 368.1 Total AT miles left to hike: 1817.2
Day 36
We heard from multiple hikers that it wad supposed to be sunny and hot all day. Well, the sun was out, but it was windy and still rather cold. We had a lot of uphill to get up to Roan Mountain. On top was a field where the luxurious Cloudland Hotel used to stand from 1885 to 1910. We stopped by the highest shelter on the Trail for lunch. It was an actual cabin with four walls. After lunch we hopped over a few balds to Yellow Mountain Gap where the Revolution War Continental Army passed by.  Nearby was the Overmountain Shelter where we spent the night. It was a large, old, two-story barn that had been converted to a shelter. From it, we could see an amazing view down into a valley between two mountains. After we arrived many more people came, but there was plenty of room inside. We sat at a picnic table talking with Young Gun, Rocky, and Hoops before going to sleep.
Miles hiked today: 15 Total AT miles completed: 383.1 Total AT miles left to hike: 1802.2