I got a surprise phone call from Brett in the middle of the day today. He sounded really good. I think his emotions have finally calmed. He said that it is hard work on the trail, but he is really enjoying it. The views have been spectacular when the clouds are gone.
Brett stayed at Low Gap shelter last night (about 41 miles north on the trail). They got up early this morning and hiked 7 fairly level, quick and easy miles to Blue Mountain Shelter. They set up camp there (Brett has been staying in his own tent at each shelter.) and called home about 1:30pm EST. It reached 60 degrees today, but Brett said the wind was picking up and the temperature was starting to plummet.
Brett has been able to stay blister-free, but he did feel a "hot spot" starting to rub a little today. It sounds like the trail hugged the side of the mountain in such a way that made the trail a little slanted. However, they stopped early enough today that his feet should be feeling fine again tomorrow after a little break from hiking.
Another good thing about having time to rest today is they will have a little more energy for tomorrow's hike. Brett said they are in for a hard day. It will only be about 7 miles (which is what they completed today), but tomorrow they will hike straight down, straight up, straight down, and straight up again.
Tomorrow they should be near "the old cheese factory" (just an old building foundation and chimney), which is supposedly a nice camping spot. In a few days he expects to be able to go into the town, Hiawassee, Georgia, where they hope to stay at the Blueberry Patch Hostel. They will either catch a shuttle if they can, or hitch-hike.
I would imagine that good food and showers are always welcome amenities. Brett said that "everything stinks. I mean, stinks."
Brett and Ed have been sticking together and will continue to do so. They may not always be always be hiking side-by-side; one of them might be 70 yards in front of the other. Brett said that it is nice having the company. He also said there is a lot of time to reflect while you are walking. He said if you are happy with yourself, then you can enjoy the time with yourself that much more. All you need is something to eat and somewhere to sleep. He hasn't missed the distractions of TV or computer at all this week.
Brett and Ed have settled into their trail names. It is standard for hikers to give each other nicknames that they will use throughout their time on the trail. Brett has dubbed Ed "Tator Tot." Ed started calling Brett "Simply Good," but the nickname wasn't sticking very well with folk (no one could remember it). So they fell back to Ed's long-time nickname for Brett, "Big B."
Go, Big B!
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