Recovering in Hiawassee

Had to stop in a town (Hiawassee, GA) to give Nancy's ankles a rest.

 

Summary so far:

 

5/23 Resupplied in Helen, GA. Perused the "hiker box" at the Helendorf Inn and found a nice rain jacket for Craig (he previously mentioned desiring a rain jacket with pockets). Went thru our mailed items and re-boxed to mail ahead to Franklin, NC. Walked the box about .5 mile, and the post office was closed for lunch for an hour; left the box there. Went back to the Helendorf and ate some Wendy's chili. Craig jogged back to the post office and sent the box. Hitchhiked to the AT trail head with a very nice couple who went out of their way to get us there. Hiked in the rain and tented at Tres Mtn shelter. Craig had deet spray in his fanny pack, and every time he bent over the deet would spray on his fanny pack and kilt, melting the plastic inside the fanny pack. Ran into friends, "Team New Orleans" at the shelter. Ate a cold-water mix of Western Stew...amazing what you will eat on the trail.

 

5/24 Met new friends Woody and Jessica who gave us an orange and slice of tomato. Met them and Team New Orleans at Deep Gap shelter, the nicest shelter so far. Craig hiked to the shelter first and hiked back to Nancy and carried her pack about a mile. Nancy's brought out her spices at dinner, and was coined the possible trail name "Spice Girl". Also met Alex who started a really nice campfire after dinner.

 

5/25 Hiked to the first road and got a ride from Greg for $20 to Hiawassee. Ate lunch at a Chinese Buffet, and they gave us meat for Kayenta. Met Woody and Jessica, who are staying as well, and ate dinner with them at a Mexican restaurant. Nancy is soaking in Epsom salt and nursing her ankles three times a day.  Nancy realized in hindsight that the ankle issue was a compiling result of three things: 1, carrying too heavy a load; but that alone did not create the issue.  2, Nancy had Kayenta dog leashed to herself for the first 5 days and Kayenta was pulling strong.  Nancy did not realize how much extra pressure this was putting on her ankles, once Craig took the dog  on day 6 this was realized.  3, we hiked a really long 10 mile day over Blood mountain and that was that, the ankles need unstressed and they will be fine.  Nancy is lightening her pack yet again, this time with great understanding of the matter.

 

5/26 Deciding what to do tomorrow regarding the hike.