April 1st - Day 28 - Erwin, TN to Fresh Grounds Leap Frog Cafe, Mile 348.8
Slept in until 8AM. Caught the 9AM shuttle into town, Uncle Johnny's is located on the outskirts of Erwin. Re-stocked on lunch foods. I've been eating pepperoni and cheese in a tortilla. I weigh my pack before I start out. It checks in at an all time high for the trail of 40.5lbs. Turrrrrible,

I don't leave uncle Johnny's until twenty of two. Real late start. We only hike 8 miles. Blink, Live, Rambo, Halfmoon, Mama Bear, Dan, Turtle, and I are here for the night. I love Fresh Grounds but my pack isn't getting lighter. Tonight is another banner night on the AT. Here is the excerpt from my journal:

"Legendary man, legendary night. Fresh Grounds made popcorn in a cast iron skillet and set a laptop out and we watched "the Other Guys" under the stars. Eight thru hikers & a trail god sprawled out on tarps and in sleeping bags."

Photo courtesy of Fresh Grounds Leap Frog Cafe Facebook. Handsome Dan(on cooler), Turtle, Goliath, Live-n-Learn,Rambo, Blink, Halfmoon, and Mama Bear (clockwise).

"Fresh Grounds is getting exhausted from 3.4 week of cooking for thru hikers for donations. I feel like he is pressure by the support and lack of support he has gotten. Even non-hikers contribute dollars to keep the Leap Frog Cafe open. Last year he went 808 miles up trail. but he is going to take a week off." Fresh grounds had a rough stretch this year. He had to put down his dog, and he got hit by an 18 wheeler all within two weeks and he still went out and put on hiker feeds. Fresh Grounds is a truly amazing individual. We caught him on a bad night. Someone the night before had messed up his cooking system and he is dealing with a lot of external problems. The hikers and community keep him going but also create pressure and problems. Its truly amazing what Fresh Grounds does and I don't think he gets enough respect for it.

Fresh Grounds recommends we stay at the Greasy Creek Friendly tomorrow night. He knows the proprietor Connie well and speaks highly of the place. We would not be disappointed.