Bud and Vicki Hogan's 1996 Appalachian Trail Journey
June 20
Whistling Gap to Erwin, TN..............................................................................12.5 miles
PUD city all day, until we got to the hill overlooking the muddy Nolichucky. Nantahala was much prettier. Ray had been a day ahead of us, we wondered if we would catch up to him here.
Coming down the hill seemed to take an eternity. Every view we came to seemed to be farther away from the town rather than closer to it. Then there was the long switchback section down towards the bottom. It started to rain just as we got to the road. From one of the views we could see two churches. We decided to stop by one of the churches to use a phone to call a cab and take us downtown to Jennies Motel.
The rain started coming down harder so we stepped up onto the porch of the nearest church. Nobody home, doors locked, no phone accessible. You better learn patience out here. We were on the porch for almost an hour. The rain lessened, and we proceeded to the next church.
There was a home nearby, the pastors, we assumed. I ask Vicki to knock on the door and ask if it would be alright for us to use the phone in the church. He said to go ahead. I tried for several minutes to call the number in the phone book for the motel and got no answer. A minute later, the preacher came over. He tried the number and got no response either. He said to come on and he would just drive us down there. We were very grateful, but we said that we would just call a cab. We really are independent and don't want to be a bother to anyone.
The preacher insisted that he take us, and we accepted. We thanked him over and over again. He responded, "I'm just sewing seeds." This was a godly attitude. We got to the motel, and it was "CLOSED". The preacher drove us to the only other motel in town. Guess what? Only one room left. "WE'LL TAKE IT!!" We unloaded our gear from the truck, thanked the preacher again, and away he went.
Our one regret from the whole trip is that we didn't write the preachers name down immediately. We had done well to write everyone's name, except his. We were so ashamed of ourselves that this man, who had been so kind to us, got away without our getting his name so that we could send him a "thank you" note. We asked the several people we had contact with if they knew him, we couldn't find out his name. If the preacher at the Chestoa Baptist Church ever gets to read this, "THANK YOU."
We check into our room then walk into town for supper. We walk about 1 1/2 miles and it is hot. Go to a place called the Elms. We're almost out of money and this place doesn't take credit cards. We have enough money to eat on tonight, and we have a mail drop in the morning which will contain some travellers checques. The food at the Elms is down home cooking, and the home made pies are some of the best you will ever eat.
Hike back to the motel, ask about a cab to take us to do our shopping and banking and post officing (yeah, yeah. I know). Not in this town. However, there are several people who volunteer to shuttle hikers around town. We got the list from the hotel clerk and picked a name at random. Lou Ann. Sounded nice. We called and she agreed to pick us up in the morning. She asked what time we wanted to go, we said anytime that would fit her schedule. We wanted to be as little trouble as possible. Great night sleep. Love that air conditioning!
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