By the time we are ready to leave the campsite at 8.15am it is already deserted. We climb 700' and descend 2000' and make good time to arrive at Fontana Dam at 11.30am. There is a pay phone and we call the Hiker Inn, an old motel, which is located about 6 miles away, to come and collect us. We are going to spend a night in luxury.
While we are waiting, an older lady comes up to chat and said she had taken two young women hikers out for dinner the previous night. It turns out to be Crafty and Sam. So we know that they are one day ahead of us.
Turtle had told us that we were making good time to be at Fontana Dam by Day 20. For the average through hiker it is 19-21 days to get here. This is amazing as we thought we were miles behind everybody else. Turtle also said that the mountains of Georgia and North Carolina are some of the hardest on the trail, and that the section from Nantahala Outdoor Centre to Fontana Dam is the hardest section of the south. So we are still alive and in with a chance it seems, to complete the hike in our time frame. On Digby's schedule, we were down to arrive at Fontana on Day 15! so we are now 5 days behind the planned timetable.
The hosts of Hikers Inn are very friendly. Nancy has five dogs, that she has rescued over the years. They all have a history of abuse and neglect.I stick my head over the back fence to say hello and one of the dogs, a rottweiler with very short legs nearly bites my head off.
We luxuriate in the motel room, and watch TV - the weather channel - and discover that rain has set in for the day but is meant to clear for the next 3 days followed by lightening storms.
Nancy does our washing for us and we order burgers and chips from the local takeaway which she collects for us. We spend the afternoon watching TV, eating junk food and relaxing in the warmth of the room, with the heater turned uphigh.
At 5.00pm Nancy drives us into Robinsville a town about 15 miles away and we shop at a large supermarket for 6 days food, and have a Mexican meal at the local restaurant.
Although we dont actually meet them at this time, Stickbuilt and Tater are also staying at the motel and also have been taken to Robinsville to eat at the same Mexican restaurant.
This is one of those days where the camera never made it out of the pack!
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