Fontana Dam in NC

On Sunday morning (4-3) we had a free pancake breakfast at the First Baptist Church.  The motel then took us to the AT.  The driver was an older southern gentleman who moved very slowly.  We stopped for gas and it took him 45 seconds just to get out of the van.  My friend and fellow hiker, Swamp Dawg, said it is a cultural thing in the south-time isn't a big issue.  As the driver was pumping gas, Swamp Dawg said the driver will probably next stop to pet his Uncle Jethro's dog and then stop to see his niece's new tooth.  His comments broke me up!  Although we got a late start at 10:10 AM, we completed 15.8 miles and finished hiking at 6:45 PM.  On Monday (4-4) we hiked 11.5 miles to the Nantahala Outdoor Center.  We stayed there because of the severe weather forecast (heavy thunderstorms) for Monday night.  On Tuesday (4-5) we began on our hike after the rain cleared and it was a beautiful day.  We hiked 13.6 miles and stayed on a closed road in our tents in a place called Stecoah Gap.  Well after dark a coyote howled loudly very nearby.  We were in his territory, and he was protesting our presence.  On Wed (4-6) we hiked 15.1 miles to the Fontana Dam Shelter.  It is called the Fontana Hilton because it can house 24 hikers and has a bathroom and warm shower.  It was a long day of hiking (7:45 AM-6:30 PM).  Swamp Dawg said, "If we keep on movin', the law will never catch up with us."  We have hiked 163.7 miles after 16 days of hiking.  Today is Thursday (4-7) and it is a zero hiking day.  We have resupplied and are doing laundry.  Lunch is planned at a small restaurant. We are entering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  We expect to take about six days to complete the Smokies.