Thursday 8th May - Monday 12th May

Distance Covered: 51.4 miles
Miles to Finish: 2053.8 miles

On arriving at Standing Indian Shelter we met ‘big turtle’ again and he informed us once again that we were on his land as he is part native on his mothers side – we were warned to behave!

Charlie decided it was time to have a bath at this stage and managed to scare off many endangered species which the state have invested thousands of dollars painstakingly reintroducing back to the mountains - tens mins well spent Charles!

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy don't make toilets. But if they did they would probably be the best toilets in the world.




















Our biggest day to date which included Albert Mountain was rewarded with some terrific views and some delightful blisters! ‘Big turtle’ was seen at the foot of the mountain offering cash to anyone who passed for his pack to be brought to the summit, this was our last point of contact with the legendry figure!

Another big day followed, with prolonged thunderstorms in the mix. To top it off we didn't screw the lid on properly for the cooking fuel and thus it spilt everywhere, (no hot food!) and Michael decided to get sun burnt so badly that his skin blistered on his back. How convenient considering he's only got a 40 pound pack to put it on it!













We arrived in Franklin via hitch and stayed in ‘Ron Haven’s budget motel’ – laundry and re supply as well as a visit to the outfitters were incorporated. We warned with poor advice to stay another night due to tornados in the area! However, a taxi driver later told us that a tornado hadn’t been in Franklin for over 50 years. Oh well, the break would do us good we said...

Saw a quite physical arrest by the local law enforcement at a petrol station which engrained in us to conduct ourselves like the gentlemen we know we are. Started again at Winding Stair Gap and had a solid day to a packed Cold Spring shelter (aptly named after a v.cold night) – Tom without a tent for the first time managed to squeeze in much to his amusement, and it was also our first smash and corn beef experience! Dont' think we've ever been so happy to see what would normally be an unsatisfying meal.












The next day we were told by a passer-by that in 15 miles we passed through a little outdoor adventure centre which had, above all, a bar and beds. On the way Paul experiences the joy of having a rocks hidden in his rucksack and his pop tarts being stolen. The soggy humidity added to his, well, let's just say it wasn't the most joyous of moods.







18” pizza, whole pound burgers, bowls of chili and chocolate brownies are demolished as the famous hikers appetites are now in full force! Met ‘conductor’, ‘hippo’, ‘Cornelius’ and ‘Dr Zeus’ at the hostel bar and they embark on a drunken night hike – hats off for the effort. Bunk beds were exceptional after some awful nights sleep and were truly hard to get out of in the morning.