#hikeawassee

Yesterday was our first resupply. We finally ate down our week’s worth of food (down to the last couple of granola bars), which made it the optimal time to head into town.

The town of Hiawassee is incredibly AT-friendly. They have a free shuttle for hikers at Unicoi Gap and Dick’s Creek Gap. We’d already passed Unicoi and Dick’s Creek was too far, so we called Dale (yes! The guy with the free donuts) and he picked us up at Indian Grave Gap.

It was only a mile from Rocky Mountain down to the parking lot, and he was there already, handing out cinnamon buns and water to other hikers coming through.

The drive down from Indian Grave is a bumpy, dirt path, wide enough for one truck at a time. Campsites are scattered on either side, usually with a jeep or truck parked there for the night. The entire road down to pavement was under a rhododendron tunnel, making it a wondrously green trip.

The weirdest part of resupply is that you’re in town, doing normal things (i.e., wandering through a grocery store trying not to buy everything that looks delicious), and wearing a fully outfitted backpack.

The Hiawassee people knew what was up, though. Hiawassee has been a steady resupply location for years. As we walked through the store, random people would stop us: “How far you going?”

“All the way to Maine!”

“Good for you,” they’d whoop back.

We even met the mayor of Hiawassee as she was coming through. We were sitting at the little cafe they have in the Ingles with Blues Clues and Stealth, and the mayor swarmed up, a whirlwind of energy and words.

“We’re so happy you’re here, we love hikers, are y’all thru-hikers? That’s amazing. Where are you from? Can I take a picture with you? Did you like the shuttle? #hikeawassee, I’m trying to make that catch on, we love having hikers here!”

There was another couple there, who overheard. “You’re going how far?” The gentleman asked.

“Hiking up to Maine,” I said. “Almost 2,200 miles.”

“Will you send me a picture when you get there?”

I shrugged. “Sure.”

He gave me his phone number and started asking me and Church Mouse questions, all about our hike, what we were doing and how it worked. Before we left, brimful of groceries and calories, he handed me a $20 bill and wished us both luck on our adventure.

From there, we headed to Trailful, the local outfitter.

I still needed rain pants, and Church Mouse wanted to see what shoes they had and if they might help her blisters.

I also needed a sun shirt. I turn red very easily (even if I’m not actually burnt), and for the past two days, every person I walked past would say one of the following: a) ma’am, you’re burning; b) oh my gosh, Sparks; c) have you put sunscreen on?; d) whoa, you’re burnt.

To be clear, yes, I put sunscreen on; yes, I knew I was red; no, it wasn’t a full burn and I was managing it; no, it didn’t hurt; yes, I was okay.

Thankfully, Trailful had all we needed! Church Mouse also left rocking some new shoes… We’ll see if they end up helping her.

From there, we hit the library. Weird, perhaps? Actually, it was perfect. We got to plug in our electronics to charge and kick back in an adorable little library, reading as our devices revived.

As an English major, it made my heart happy.

We finished out the town day at Taco Bell, eating some budget-friendly, “not camping” food. Dale picked us up there and took us back to Indian Grave. Our campsite was only a mile further up, where we spread out our tent, set up Church Mouse’s hammock, and taste-tested the chocolate blueberries and yogurt raisins.

For a first restock, it went really well.