Day 24, Friday, September 25, 2020

Newton Bald to Smokemont Campground

Mile 259.1

Miles Hiked: 6.0

PIT STOP

Unscheduled stop at Smokemont Campground, where Silent Bob met me around noon with the mobile motel. I was a right soggy mess.

But I keep the van stocked with towels, clean undies, dry socks and a small selection of hoodies, leggings and spare sneakers. Ready to road trip on a moment’s notice also means I can go from soggy mess to cozy camper in seconds flat. A thru-hiker pit stop with a seasoned pit crew.

After drying myself, drying my stuff was the next item on my to-do list.

TOURISTIC WEIRDNESS

We drove on down to Cherokee where I wasn’t entirely prepared to face the touristic weirdness. As we scooted past places like the Wigwam Motel (cottages shaped like teepees, of course) and moccasin shops, I reminded myself it could be worse. We could be looking for a laundromat in Gatlinburg.

We did see two beautiful bull elk in the pasture on the way to town, so now I’ve seen all the things along the BMT.

Got my stuff dried at the Wash Pot. Found a funky diner called BJ’s, with picnic tables next to the river, serving burgers and onion rings out of a walk-up window. Exactly what I needed after spending 49 hours in the rain.