Franklin, NC- Nantahala Outdoor Center
- Mile 137 - Feb 13th, 2017
Had a short day of hiking to be able to stop at Franklin, NC and resupply. It was Sunday morning and the town was empty (everyone was at church) but luckily I was able to find a place to eat brunch. My next stop was my first brewery on the trail, Lazy Hiker Brewing Co. Great beer and great vibes! Wish I could've stayed later on the day for the NFL playoffs but had to push on. Quick resupply for 4 days of food, checked out the Outfitter Store, and grabbed some Sonics to go for dinner on the trail. I received my first taste of trail magic as our ride back to the trail only had me pay $3. Before this I had paid $15 one way to Haiawassee, GA and and the same going into Franklin. Beverly is definitely the true definition of a Trail Angel! Had my second day of rain 2 days after Franklin but luckily it was only a sprinkle but my feet take forever to warm! Still I survived. That same night around 8:30 PM I see lights (in the middle of the rain) and two Southbounders were coming into the shelter to finish up their day coming from the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center). Our first run in with SOBOs and it was cool. They shared tips and stories about what's still to come for us and I told I was happy for them that they were so close to the end of the tunnel. The next day was a push to the NOC, a mecha resort for all outdoor activities. On the way there though, Micah had told me that he was thinking about going back home to take his dog, Tuvia back. His dog had not been doing that well on the hike. He was more defensive and aggressive than usual and rarely ate. Micah made the right choice. We arrived at the NOC around 2:00 PM. Since we were separating, I figuring out what's my schedule going to be like for the next few days while Micah was making arrangements to drive back home. We grabbed dinner and some beer that night and we parted ways temporarily until he would catch up to me.
Babyface
- Mile 137 - Feb 13th, 2017