Saturday April 13

Very windy..didn't sleep especially well..should have just put in earplugs..but didn't.  Out of camp at 700am..great sunrise in the mountains. Easy walk down to spiveys gap where I sat and made coffee and watched the world wake up.  here zag and I will trade places..she will slack pack on into Erwin, I will shuttle in and have my shoe issue resolved. I finally met the infamous "miss Janet". She shuttled us this morning .she is truly incredible and I don't know how she does what she does. Angel is an understatement. she set me up with a friend of hers for a ride to Johnson city, about 20 minutes away..
So sat by the road this morning, tail magic started arriving. Guinness and his wife, extra stout, their dog, Jake..stopped by with an assortment of goodies; then someone else dropped off a box..it dawned on me : today is Saturday! I chatted with guinness and xstout while other hikers stopped by.
Once in town, I did laundry, charged my phone, called mahoneys outfitters in Johnson city..they carry Salomon . Also woke up with a hole in my platypus so I can't carry any water..horrible, but perfect timing!  Dah wah he is his trail name, Navajo for "bearded one"..took me to the outfitters where I got new shoes, platypus and fuel....all for $25. I love product warranties.... I changed my shoe to something with more stability and forefoot cushion, wider toe box..very scary to change shoes..I' ll see what happens..I can always swap back out later.  I traded in my 3L platypus and swapped out my old 1.5 L for a6L foot fetching water from the source!
Stephanie at mahoneys was very helpful. They had a great selection and the staff was friendly.
Tomorrow it's onward to wherever we feel like stopping. Goat is now off the trail..not feeling well...

Pics: roadside coffee; guinness, extra stout and Jake,; sunrise