Day 2 – 9.5 miles – I awoke early and set about nature’s business then breaking down camp. I’m starting to get the idea that I don’t want to linger in camp. I’d much rather get up and get out on the trail and then have breakfast later in the morning after sunrise. We stopped at Justus Creek to cool off with several other hikers and had lunch. We arrived at Gooch Mountain Shelter around 3pm. Upon inspection the shelter was fully exposed on a hot hillside. I didn’t care for the idea of roasting on the hillside for the next 5 hours. I convinced my companions to put for Gooch Gap in the hopes of holding up elsewhere for the night. We arrived at Gooch Gap around 4:30pm and began calling around for a place to stay. We finally landed a place at Misty Mountain Inn & Cottages in Blairsville, GA. The proprietor, Craig Griffiths, would shuttle us to and fro as well. While waiting for him a few hikers we knew from the trail showed up. While we were talking Ms. Janet, a known trail angel, puts up in her van and offers candy and drinks to which we happily obliged. We ended the night drinking cold beer on a porch in Blairsville. Surprising 2nd day on the trail, to say the least.