TRAIL DAY 32
Wed, Mar 23, 2016 Other than that first day and night at Gatlinburg, I have a dull memory of what went on there. I got to know the town a little. I had one of the MREs for lunch and another for supper and I took a little walk on the path in the woods. I found a Walgreens and learned that they had a pretty good supply of stuff for the trail. It was here that I purchased my first bag of coffee to treat myself to a good cup of brew each morning. Let me tell you now how I managed this.
On The Long Trail in Vermont, and Pennsylvania trails, I held to a pretty strict regime: cold cereal; hike; snack; bigger snack for lunch; hike; snack; supper of dehydrated food; drink water and Crystal Light. I cooked only at supper.
I followed this regime for a while on the Appalachian Trail until the length of time in the woods led to moderation on both weight and time spent preparing meals. I allowed both to increase where the tradeoff was worth it.
It was at the Gatlinburg Walgreens that I first noticed a bag of Starbucks Dark French Roast Coffee small enough to carry. Soon I would be starting the day with a nice jolt of caffeine from my favorite coffee – the reward was a worthy tradeoff for the modest addition of weight and bulk.
A good amount of time was yet to pass, however, before I began cooking my breakfast. When that time came, I would boil three-plus cups of water, turn off the stove and then pour half the water in my hot cereal of oatmeal, granola, raisins, nuts, brown-sugar and powdered-milk – a super breakfast for the trail. Into the remaining half, I would pour sufficient coffee grounds to make a strong brew. The coffee would steep cowboy style while I had my cereal.
I should add that my down booties played a role here. They came in a very nice fine mesh bag which, over time, began to tear at the seam. So I no longer used the bag for the booties – it became my coffee mesh supply. I cut out a section about twice the size of the top of my pot. I would place this mesh over the pot, cover it with the tight pour lid that came with the stove and, when ready, strain the water-turned-brew through the mesh. VOILA! Strong Dark French Roast Coffee!
I kept the mesh strainer in a small plastic bag. As the water was heating up, I would prepare my cereal and then take the mesh out of its plastic bag and keep it nearby ready for use. I would then pour the right amount of coffee grounds onto the bag so I could see the amount I was using. By the time I had cereal and coffee grounds ready, the water would be boiling and I’d be in for a stupendous breakfast. I even learned to treat myself – and Theo – to pastries or donuts to have with my coffee. If they got crushed to crumbs, my long-shanked spoon did the trick!
I finished at Walgreens and headed back to my room. I had walked a half mile or more down the main street when I realized that I forgot to get the PreserVision pills my eye doctor recommended to ward off macula degeneration. I turned around and walked back.
Walking is what thru-hikers do. You come into town and someone says, “It’s not far, just around that corner, about a mile.” So you walk – when you have to. Pavement walking, however, is a lot less pleasant than dirt walking. It’s harder on the feet and not nearly as entertaining. Concrete walks are man-made but the woods belong to the author of life. Something primordial within says, “I belong here.” I didn’t hear that voice walking down the street in Gatlinburg or any other town along the AT.
Nonetheless, I pounded the pavement, got the medicine and returned to my room.
I know I spent a good bit of my days at Motel 6 in an area above the receptionist’s desk where there was a table and chair to do some work on my tablet. Unfortunately, I could not get WiFi in my room. I tended to many things online, some legal, some bills, some effort at blogging – there was always a lot to do. And always, figuring out the next several days was a job. How far could I go? What was the terrain profile? What would be the next stop? How many days of food should I carry?
I also made arrangements for Federal Express to pick up a package and mail it forward. The gal at the front desk was very helpful and got me a box that was too big but it worked. She also kept coffee for guests downstairs and I was welcomed to help myself.
Come supper time, I went to Calhoun’s Restaurant not too far from the motel for ribs and a good cold brew, soup to start.
Happily, sometime during my stay, I saw the gal from behind the desk make her way home just across the road from the motel. This would come in handy that night. As would happen often on the trail when in town, I would forget to send my GPS signal for the family to track me and know my whereabouts. I had decided to send a signal every night whether on the trail or not. Because I was apt to forget, I put the GPS device in my supper bag so I would see it as I prepared my evening meal and send the signal.
Well, I forgot to send the signal at Motel 6 one night and when I awoke around 2:00 a.m., I remembered and went outside in my pajama bottoms and a T-shirt to send the signal. The device needed a clear shot at the sky without a roof or other structure in the way. So out I went. I closed the door behind me thinking I had left it unlocked – WRONG!
I had no choice but to disturb the nice gal from the front desk in her home to find some way to let me in my room. She did and all was well. She was very nice about it. Lesson learned.
Day #32 Newfound Gap (Gatlinburg TN) 0 miles