5/7/99 Davenport Gap / Mountain Momma's Kuntry Store   Miles Today : 16 Miles from Springer : 235.2

Well, short-term goal #1 is complete. Rick and I hit Davenport Gap, ending our stay in the Smokies around 2:30pm. Because of the loud thunder, the fact that I needed to get a maildrop and the fact that the next 6 miles are all uphill, we ended early at Mountain Momma's.

I don't know what I was expecting, but this isn't it, although it should have been. Seems Momma does everything: General Store, kitchen, bunkhouse, auto repair, towing and most importantly Tobacco Outpost. By far, the largest part of the whole "campus" is the cig section of the store. Inside and out, the words "Jesus is Lord" are plastered, even under the daily special, which is chicken strips w/ Honey Mustard, BTW. I opted for their famous Huge Cheeseburger, loaded. Let me tell you, loaded ,means lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles and an entire jar of mayo! Not bad - a little overcooked.

There are 3 bunkrooms here ; White(4646), pink (Honeymoon Haven), and Green (Momma's Hilton). We opted for the green, due mostly to the giant deer head mounted over the porch. No TV, no phone, but the bunks are comfy and dry since the downpours have again begun, when will it end???

Woah! Drive-By just showed up and Monk isn't far behind (6:30). D-By is soaked, but glad to be here after a 20+ miler today.

Tomorrow, its a hard 15 mile day for us. The first 6 miles go from 1500ft to 5000 feet, just like the climb into the Smokies. We are planning to camp on Max Patch tomorrow. My scheduled 20 mile day to Hot Springs may be a little too much as the terrain looks exhausting, but I will give it a go anyway.

HIKER PROFILE : Rick is in his late 20's and he lives with his wife in Nebraska. He has the time to hike since he is going back to school for Biology and hopes to work on developing natural cures for diseases. He was in the army for 7 years and spent 6 moths in the Gulf war repairing the Apaches. He is originally from Pennsylvania, around Boiling Springs.

HOME WORKSHOP: So, you think what I am doing is cool and you want to experience some of the trail at home? Well, once in a while I drop a workshop here for you to try out. Today's workshop is : wash and dry your dinner pan using only one 6 " by 6" cloth, 16oz of cold water, no soap and your hands. See if you can get the dinner smell out since you have to make coffee and oatmeal in that same pot tomorrow.

OK, that's all for now. The rain is subsiding somewhat, tomorrow looks to be a good day, and Max Patch is supposed to be as nice as Cheoah Bald. Oh happy day.

-Chomp

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