HAWK MTN CAMPSITES > GOOCH GAP

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.

AMICALOLA > SPRINGER MTN > HAWK MTN CAMPSITES

Day 1 – 14.65 miles – We met our new friend in the lobby at 6am and did the shuttle bit before returning to the lodge and having breakfast. After checking out we headed out towards the approach trail. We had lunch on the summit of Springer Mountain and took a few pics. It was another 7.4 miles north till we reached Hawk Mountain Campsites. We decided to stay here instead of the shelter for a few reasons. We heard mice were bad at the shelter and we knew a lot of people were planning to stay there already. The sites were nice albeit a little small. There was a privy and a spring as well.

DELAWARE > AMICALOLA FALLS STATE PARK

Day 0 – We spent Friday night driving south landing in Durham, NC at the hotel. We made it to Amicalola in the early afternoon on Saturday. The lodge sits on a ridge overlooking the valley and mountains in the distance. After getting settled in we located the bar and set about enjoying our last day in comfort for a while. We eventually got to talking with a fellow that was heading south for vacation and had stopped at Amicalola for the night. We had a lot in common and as we told them about our endeavoring trip ahead they offered to follow us down to the long term parking in the morning and carry us back up to the lodge so that we wouldn’t have to take the ridge trail around the falls. At the time of our departure the stairs were closed due to damage after a storm. We, of course, leapt at the opportunity. Our first bit of trail magic and we hadn’t even got on trail yet.

GOLF @ GREEN HILL

Played golf today with a friend at Green Hill Country Club in the bustling metropolis of Quantico, MD. The weather was fantastic! GolfNow paired us with a fellow from round Bishopville. Real nice fella. Hope to play again with them. Had food and beer after the round. The restaurant is a hidden gem. Had pulled pork bbq and some Fat Tire drafts.

MARKET STREET INN

I’m quick making a habit of grabbing dinner at Market St. after my massage appointments. Work had been a little stressful today so a few orange crushes were warranted. The meal & service was outstanding as usual. Featured image is scallops on a bed of smoked gouda and crabmeat risotto, blistered tomatoes, and roasted asparagus. It was quite good.