(Daily Mi: 12.1) Fantastic storm last night. Hail and lightening. It was pretty spectacular in tin roofed shelter up on the ridge line, but the light show was even more amazing in the valley on the Tennessee side of the ridge.

Absolutely soaked everything in my allegedly waterproof sil-nylon food bag dutifully hung on the bear wire through the storm.

Also near to suficated last night with smoke from non-fire that smoldered prety close to all night -- without ever getting hot enough to vent through the chimney.

Still pretty sick. Hiked out of the Smokies more or less hand in glove with Brother and Laura for motivation this morning. Crisp but sunny weather.

Made it to Fontana Dam around noon. There is a coin operated shower at the Fontana Dam Visitor Center which Brother and Laura took advantage of as I lolled in the sun in the parking lot and pondered as to whether it was stranger that the dam had a visitors' center or that the dam had visitors.

Scored left over trail snacks from a group of college freshmen waiting for a school van in the parking lot at the end of a three day trip -- funny how even cramps can't completely stop me from eating.

Hiked a couple of miles on to the road head and used a dedicated phone to call a shuttle from the Fontana Dam Resort where we have all agreed to share a room for at least a night and where I hope my drop box has at last been successfully redirected.