Day 17 - Tellico Gap to Nantahala Outdoor Centre - 7.9 miles

The hike is short, but a very long descent, over 2500'. On the way we meet a volunteer track maintainer, called 'The Geek' doing his patrol. He is allocated a section of trail to look after, and he walks this section on a regular basis, pruning back the vegetation, and removing fallen trees. He is the first of many volunteers that we will meet over the next 6 months. The AT owes its survival to the support from volunteers and community groups. We are amazed at how many people are involved in track building and maintenance and wonder if this model could be applied in Australia.

As we approach the Nantahala Outdoor Centre (NOC) we can hear loud microphones and music floating over the ridge. There is a busy festival and demonstration of canoeing taking place on the river, with a slalom couse, loud music, and hundreds of people and cars.

We are lucky to be able to get accommodation at one of the lodges, and then we head straight for the outfitters. We had bought a battery charger for our camera on the internet and had it mailed to us here - and there it was! We had lunch at the riverside restaurant - fresh trout and salad, with a glass of californian chardonnay. The glass is 'big'.

Life is tough - riverside dining for lunch and dinner

It is a relaxing afternoon in the sun. We sit and drink beer with the other hikers, and meet Traveller again. We havent seen him since Day 1. Traveller joins us for dinner later that night and we hear his story - he slept rough the first night as he did not make it to the campsite, and then turned around and went back. He decided he needed lighter gear, did a complete refit, and then started hiking again from Neals Gap, so he jumped a few days ahead of us.

Digby with Traveller

Digby went shopping in the outfitters for a new pair of boots - and buys a very light pair like gym shoes which breathe - this means they have holes and the water gets in.

We drift off to sleep listening to 'hillbilly' music - great fiddle playing coming from the beer tent by the river.