Zero Day.

Old School and I rolled into Franklin and split a room at the Hillside Inn, just walking distance from town. After showering, we decided to grab dinner at a restaurant called Gracious Plates on Main.

It was a nice place, and the waitress recognized we were thru-hikers immediately. I hear a lot of these towns off the AT really show appreciation for the hikers, and I was about to experience that here in Franklin. “So you guys are hiking through? I’ve got to check with the chef, but I think we might have some filet mignon for you guys.” Our waitress came back and confirmed that they had some and that they could fix it up with scallops and mushrooms. Old School ordered off the menu, but I was on this “just say yes” kick, so I accepted the offer. Filet mignon with all the fixings, medium-rare with a side of onions and veggies. It was absolutely decadent.

Then came the bill. $70. My one plate of food cost more than the motel we booked for a night. Perhaps I shouldn’t say yes to everything. However, I still consider that meal worth it.

The next day, I took my first true zero day in the town of Franklin. That’s basically a day when I don’t hike any miles on the trail, totaling zero miles for that day.

I really enjoyed the town. I had heard good things about Franklin, and I was not disappointed. The old architecture, the hillside backdrop, the friendly people, great amenities, and overall cool vibe made for a wonderful experience.

I started my zero day with a good old-fashioned breakfast at the Kountry Kitchen. A Denver omelet with hash browns and toast.

Even though zero days don’t involve hiking, that doesn’t mean they’re strictly a stroll through town. I had errands to run and plans to make. The first order of business was to go to the hiker-friendly outfitter, Outdoor 76. I saw that they had a laundry service and provided loaner clothes to hikers. They really take care of the thru-hikers and have made a little hangout for us in the basement section where the laundry is located. Of course, I ran into Ketchup when I went down there. We seem to run into each other almost every day without planning, and we always joke about it.

While I wait for my laundry, I start chatting with one of the workers at the outfitter about shoes. My Altras were starting to get beat up, and I was interested in looking at other options. The guy was great and spent 90 minutes with me getting properly measured, fitted, and trying on several options. I decided to move on from my Altras and go with a pair of Hokas. It feels a bit sad to get rid of those shoes. They really did their job in my pre-trail training and got me through the first 100 miles. However, I anticipated going through several pairs of shoes on this hike and it was only a matter of time.

Went back to the motel with clean clothes. Time to do some resupplying. I took all the food I had remaining out of my pack, did a proper inventory, and made a list of needed items. I took a 12-minute walk to the local Ingles supermarket. I signed up for their discount card because I heard that I’ll be running into Ingles a lot the next few hundred miles, and the savings are worth it. I felt my shopping was much more precise than on previous resupply trips. Tuna, tortillas, ramen, summer sausage, protein bars, oatmeal, coffee, candy bars—all the essentials. I even got some fresh blueberries, which I ate as lunch on my walk back.

I took my haul back to the room to enact more space-saving measures. I found a treasure trove of Ziploc bags in the hiker box at the motel, so I began unpacking some items. I consolidated breakfast and dinner meals into their own bags. This will save me time, produce less trash while I’m out on the trail, and also create more space in my pack.

With my errands done, it was time for dinner. The Motor Co. Grill caught my eye when I was first looking for a place to stop in Franklin. I got myself a delicious burger, a Coke, and the largest banana split I have ever seen. I stuffed myself and then went back to my room to call it a night.

I’m going to get back on the trail tomorrow. Rain is in the forecast early, will dry out in the afternoon, but get cold that night. That should be good practice for the Smoky Mountains, which I anticipate I’ll be entering in four or five days.