Staying with new friends in Franklin NC

5/26 Nancy's friend Pat B contacted friends Sandi and Donn to ask about us pstaying in Franklin NC.  Nancy was having trouble walking due to the ankle pain and she was struggling to make the hard decision to take time off to rest while Craig continued on.

5/27  Craig and Nancy met more hikers coming into town.  Hiker wisdom: You can either be comfortable at camp or on the trail, but you can't be both.  Met more folks who would like to own some of the products that Nancy has designed, so she is collecting contacts.  Many people are offering help for us to market and manufacture the products. Decided to have Nancy stay in Franklin while Craig hiked the 40 miles from Hiawassee. Craig hitched a ride to the trail head; Sandi and Donn picked up Nancy and Kayenta, and took her to Franklin. Craig hiked to Plumorchard Gap shelter, ate (Carly's) peanut butter, and slept in the shelter with Chris "tangled" and his army friend Jake.

5/28 Craig's first occurrence of trail magic...young men left a bunch of cereal bars and other snacks. Arrived at Standing Indian shelter with Tangled and later with other young men. Tangled gave Craig the trail name "Kilt". Read an interesting book named How good is good enough; author made many good points but Craig did not agree with the conclusion; agreeing with our friend Gary G's theory.  Sandi and Donn were great to stay with, Nancy loved to learn about their lifestyle of bee keeping, organic gardening, cheese making, solar oven cooking.  There were so many books she wanted to read, but she needed to eliminate weight in her pack and Sandi offered her use of a sewing machine. All of this lessened the disappointment of leaving the trail.

5/29  Craig hiked the toughest hill so far up to a fire tower. Met previous friend Alex. Called Nancy to say I would be arriving in Franklin a day earlier than expected. Arrived at Big Spring shelter and had a nice campfire. Nancy went with Sandi and Donn to meet Kim and Dave, who is president of the local hike club. They have hiked 550 miles of the AT, so we had a great time sharing trail knowledge and stories, wonderful people.  Nancy is now using essential oils to keeps most ticks at a distance of her and the dog.

5/30 Craig hiked to US 64 and got a ride from a hiker's mother (I believe) to Franklin. Sandi and Nancy picked Craig up and we had lunch and ran errands. Spent the night in a tent on the porch to accomodate Kayenta who is not allowed in the house, this is where Nancy had spent the last week. This is a very nice accomodation from very gracious folks. Today Nancy met Faye and had a delightful conversation with a kindred spirit, Nancy purchased her CD which was about the plants of Appalachia.

5/31 Nancy downsized her pantry of backpacking spices and extra trail supplies, while Craig helped Donn with some house carpentry work. Nancy chose to have a chiroptactic adjustment on her feet/ankles.  A local man named Bill was a great help, he worked her sacrum, back, and neck as well, Nancy could tell it helped.

6/1 Getting ready (shipments etc) to get back on the trail either this evening or tomorrow morning.  We stayed the night and went with Sandi and Donn to a solar oven presentation.  Ended the evening with a great conversation about living well.

6/2  Off to the trail after an excellent breakfast and conversation.