These are basically rope, with an upside down can tied to the middle and a stick at the end to hang stuff on. The theory being that a mouse can climb down the rope but will slip on the upside down can and fall to the ground, or not attempt it and move on.
Anyway, my bag was making rustling sounds, which meant there was at least one mouse in it. I got out of my warm sleeping bag, put on my crocs, headlamp and glasses and approached the bag. When I pointed my headlamp directly at my bag, the mouse would stop but when I hid the light I heard him again "scratch, scratch". I picked up a stick and started hitting my backpack, as if it were a pinata. The rustling stopped. I moved the headlamp and the scratching came back. I hadn't scared him out.
Then I took my backpack down and turned it upside down, dumping all my stuff all over the place until my bag was completely empty. I still didn't see the mouse but my bag was now definitely mouse and contents free. So I started putting things back into my bag one item at a time. I finally thought that everything was back in my bag but still there was no mouse. Then as I was trying to rehang my bag I stepped on a bag that was still on the ground and felt something squish and I jumped. I looked down at the bag and there was a lump in the bag. I bent down and picked it up and there was no mouse, it was only a rock under the bag. The mouse had disappeared and I went back to my sleeping bag and went to sleep.
In the morning I was woken up by some section hikers who were tenting and decided to make their breakfast in the shelter where I was sleeping. How very considerate of them.
The hike today to Fontana Dam was only 5.9 miles and wasn't overly challenging. I don't have reception here either. Last night I talked to Matt and Blues about getting a room together tonight in Fontana Dam because the cheapest rooms they have are $60. We got to the Fontana Dam village and it is very nice, I would highly recommend this place. The guys who woke me up paid $100 for their room. What goes around comes around I suppose.
Matt checked into the room and was filling out the standard form with his name and contact information and then handed back the form to the guy at the front counter. "Since you obviously don't have a car I'm going to need you to put the brand and size of your boots in the make and model section for cars". He was joking of course. Then after matt finished getting everything, the guy walked away like he was done without giving us our keys. "Do we have keys?" Matt inquired. "You can just use your thumbprint, I captured it when u used my pen" the attendant joked. "Pretty fancy" matt replied. "Yah, we just got these new fangled computer boxes last week" the clerk said while touching his monitor. It was good to see someone intelligent having fun with his job.
First thing Blues and I went to get our mail and his was here but mine wasn't so I have to wait until 11am Saturday to check for my mail again and hopefully it will be there because they are closed on sunday. Then we went to lunch and I got a burger with fries and 2 32 ounce beers. Then I had a coke, chips and a twix for dessert.
We did laundry and mistankely stole someones bag and a womans see thru shirt. We found the owners of both and returned them. Blues and I went to a presentation on the history of the fontana dam. We were the only ones at the presentation, but there were some interesting pictures. Matt hasn't been feeling very well for a few days and spent most of the day in bed watching tv.
The cheapest thing on the dinner menu was $17 so Blues and I went to the gas station/bar down the hill. Yes, a gas station that serves hot dogs and has a bar. Then we went and heard a musician from Atlanta playing guitar, had another beer and ate some free cookies.
Today was a good day all around, easy trails, cold beer, warm food, sunny skies and a warm comfy bed. Tomorrow I enter the smokies with or without my mail drop.
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