Day 36

Day 36 - White Rock Mtn. to side trail to US 321 (Hampton, TN) - 7.5 miles (415.5 miles total)

Got to Dennis Cove this morning where we walked up the road to the Kincora hostel. There we took showers (and braved run-ins with a very fast and VERY LARGE spider who lived in there), did our laundry, and hung out. Left by 1:30 to take a blue-blaze trail that led us down the river, past the falls, directly into town. At the trailhead we were lucky enough to score a ride all the way down the road to the McDonalds/MiniMart. Stuffed ourselves, Laura got a soda stomachache from the free refills, and resupplied at the dollar store across the way. As we were outside then repacking our goods into our packs, a guy approached us (wearing an AT shirt) and offered us a ride back to the trailhead. Turns out he was a local section hiker named Candy Wrapper and his offer of a ride couldn't have come at s better time since it started to *pour* as we drove back. At the trailhead we got out of the truck, became completely soaked putting on our raingear, and trudged off into the woods feelng sticky wet and uncomfortable. Hilariously, the rain stopped no more than five minutes later and the sun came back out. We now remember the east's sudden downpours more vividly - they sure are a far cry from Seattle's "mizzle". We camped on the riverbank, dryed out in the last hours of daylight, and had a great night.