April 13 in North Carolina

April 13, 2005 | Day 17 | Miles: 6.9 | Total Miles 162.9
End: Fontana Dam, NC, Fontana Inn, motel room
Danielle:
Overcast
Well, we were nice and dry in the shelter last night, after falling asleep to guitar playing and singing going on around the campfire. There were about 2 dozen people at the shelter, but only 3 guys and us 2 were able to fit in the small shelter. Everyone else was out in the night's storm.
It was an overcast day as we started out, but the clouds rose a bit as we descended to Fontana Dam, a huge dam that we could see through the trees as we got closer. As we descended into the valley, there was also more and more green around us. The forest is coming alive. Leaves are unfurling, trilliums and violets and wood sorrels are blooming along the trail, flowering trees are blooming. Very nice.
We were feeling a bit better today, which was good, as spirits were definitely a bit low yesterday. I guess it happens, but it was nice to be more cheerful today. We clicked off our 6.9m by 11:15am, checked into the motel, got our mail drop at the PO, showered, ate, did laundry, set all our gear out to dry, and chatted with all the other hikers around. This place must be packed in the summer with the dam, lake and marina, but at this time of year, it's only the thru-hikers wandering around the place. And we must have seen at least 30 to 40 others today, so it's going to be busy in the Smokies, that's for sure! We've heard the weather is supposed to be nice for a few days, and we'll take it :-)
Just happy to be here...

Ryan:
cloudy, few sprinkles
i feel i should elaborate on yesterday's journal. on top of the pouring down rain, i had a pain in my shoulder. take a meat cleaver, heat it to just about white hot. then, drive it into your back between your shouler blade and your spine. then just for kicks, throw in some lemon juice just for kicks. it kinda felt like that. not even remotely pleasant. i had a problem with the same spot a few months ago, and think it was caused by bad posture sitting at a desk. desks are bad. it feels better today. hopefully, another shower and another back rub from danielle and i'll be good to go. ibuprofen helps, too. the good news is that it only hurts when i carry a pack... the ironic thing is that my legs feel great...ankles, knees, everything else. my legs. it's crazy. so, if i can work out this shoulder knot, we'll keep rolling. in other news, we're hanging out at fontana dam in a motel...looking forward to dinner, and watching the sox tonight. tomorrow, the smokies...mmmmm...
today's song - opposites attract, paula abdul...all danielle's fault