Franklin, North Carolina, is a city for hikers

Franklin is truly an Appalachian community in every sense of the word. I thought Hiawassee was a great place to get off trail for a day (and it was), but Franklin, North Carolina makes it very easy to be a hiker.

You could hardly call it a hike to the Rock Gap parking lot. Basically, we packed up the tent, took two steps from the shelter, and we were there. We were nervous because there was a line of about 14 people waiting for the ferry. Thinking we could get some sleep, we arrived late and probably wouldn’t fit on the city transportation.

A big truck pulled up and a guy named No Heart jumped out to give a hiker back the phone he’d left in his car when he was driving them back to the trail. He thought that since he was already there, he would also take a group of other people to the city.

Suddenly it looked like the ferry was going to have a little more room for us. So thank you No Heart!

They dropped us off right in front of a place called Outdoor 76. This place is everything a hiker wants. They had gear, laundry service, electrical outlets, and even a full lounge for AT Hikers to hang out. He practically solved all of my and Jessie’s logistical problems in 2 seconds. Also, the staff was amazing.

Jessie and I got the cheapest motel we could find in town since the hostel was full. We couldn’t check in until 2:00 pm and it was still early in the morning. So we decided to grab a bite to eat and take care of our resupply while we waited.

The people at The Grove Hostel were still happy to take us around the city as many of our friends were staying with them. They dropped us off at Walmart, which in itself is nothing special. However, what was next to this Walmart was an absolute godsend.

The Asian King $12 all you can eat buffet lunch. We had a little double date with our friends Phantom and River at this excellent establishment, and we each made sure to eat about 3 full courses. And all you can eat in a hiking community should only spill money. It was amazing.

With our stomachs full, we sleepily walked into Walmart to resupply. This time we used sweets a lot. When we are hiking, we have noticed that there is a strong craving for gummies. We each carry about half a kilo of Airheads Xtreme and Starbursts.

After our resupply, two potential tragedies were averted. Mike, a Grove employee, kindly offered to take us to pick up our bags and drop us off at our hotel. We put the shopping in the trunk and went outside 76.

In my hasty attempt not to waste this kind man’s time, I clocked the Y-strap on my Durston backpack too tight and completely broke the buckle. Luckily, I broke the buckle at a supplier who was more than capable of replacing it.

The surgery was going to last a minute. So we told Mike not to worry about the trip. What we forgot was that all of our purchases were still in his trunk. We didn’t even realize until we got to the hotel.

When my new Jerry-equipped Durston was ready to go, we headed to the motel, realized our mistake, and tried to get Mike’s number. We finally contacted him and he delivered the purchase directly to our door. What a guy!

The motel itself was a bit lackluster. The paint was peeling. It was a little doubtful whether or not the sheets had been washed. And the lights were that terrifying fluorescent color. It still had pipes and a mattress, although I guess it’s better than sleeping on the ground.

We headed out in the afternoon to hang out with everyone at The Lazy Hiker. As tempting as it was to have a drink, we ended up having a coke and going out to eat at Los Margaritas with Phantom and River again (now with the addition of our new friend Bob!).

I almost cried when the food came out. I think I’m developing some taste buds where any real food feels like it was sent straight from heaven. I won’t lie, this fried burrito made me make some noises that made other tables turn their heads.

Well satiated, we returned to the motel to enjoy the first night we were able to sleep in.

The next day was a beautiful morning in Franklin. The mountains were so atmospheric that I felt almost a little sad that we missed all the rain. The fog would have seemed incredible.

We got some authentic Southern cuisine at Kountry Kitchen and waited in town until 11am to enjoy a free cookout they were doing for day trippers in the town square. There is a big food theme when we get to the cities.

We devoured our burgers and hot dogs, said goodbye to everyone, and hopped on the bus back to Rock Gap.

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