Greenstone to Queenstown - practically a zero

Well, after the wee culture shock of an overflowing 20 person hut last night, I awoke to a thundering herd of early birds. I let the 5:00 risers clear the kitchen before heading out to grab my third of a chocolate bar for breakfast. (I've got more food; I just didn't need it for the day.)

Today's hike was incredibly similar to a million Smokies trails - winding along the side of a hill by a nice little river, sun filtering thru the trees overhead, crossing a bunch of feeder creeks cascading toward the river. Since the TA feeds out at a popular trail hub here, the path was well worn, too. I leisurely passed all of the early folk on the trail, and got a bit of a swim/wash in the crystalline Caples River before exiting to the trailhead. (The deep blue/green swimming holes in the Greenstone would have been ideal, but swimming before 10 can be a bit too chilly.)  I finished before 10:30, hitched a lift by 11:30, and was in town by 1:00. 

Queenstown is a pretty lively little place. Chock full of adventure tourists who are off to bungee jump or skydive. I keep mistaking all of the different i signs for official i-sites, but even so, I managed to find a hostel for the evening. After a shower, burger, and gelato, I'm feeling a bit more human, but I'm antsy to get back on the trail. The past few days have been unbelievably beautiful. I can't wait to see what's up next!