Long couple days..

So after our delightful town visit in Franklin, we had to hike up to 5000 feet, only to hike down to 1700 to a place called the Nantahalla Outdoor Center.

White water rafting, zip lining, kayaking, super cool place. The fact that we were there on a Saturday was even more awesome. We stuffed ourselves with 1/2 lb burgers and beer and listened to live music. Then we were reunited with some of our Hiker friends, Mary, Skipper, Pickles and the puppies Snaggletooth and Little Spoon.
Then Tramp, Grizzly, and Spyder showed us some awesome free camping right by the River.
Then an ugly hike in the morning up 4000 feet over 6 miles. We ended up going farther to camp (a little rough). And then came down to Fontana Dam. What a tourist trap!! Nothing was open till Thursday through Sunday. Not helpful when you're there on a Tuesday! We stayed at the Hiker famous Fontana Hilton. It's a shelter on the trail with real bathrooms and a solar shower and amazing views of the lake. Oh and even some excitement with a horseback-riding-golf-club-wielding-drunk-redneck.

Now we're hiking through the great Smoky Mountain National Park. I will post more when we get to Gatlinburg, TN!