Date: 2009-04-23
From: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Last couple days have been super, and are only going to get better. The last place I updated from was called Standing Bear Farm. It's a rustic, secluded hostel in the woods of North Carolina (or Tennessee...not sure because the trail saunters back and forth along the border down here). The place was full of hikers because there had been a party there the day before and people were still lingering. Because it was full there were no beds left. No worries though, because I got to sleep up in the hay loft above the barn. Excellent nights sleep...what can I say, hay is soft. In addition to sleeping in the barn, some of the other amenities include an old fashioned washboard, tub, and wringer for doing your laundry. They have a pretty decent little food cupbpard for the hikers to resupply. They run everything on an honors system so you just keep track of what you're using and eating and at the end of your stay you tell them and they ring you up. Despite being in a great place, I fell into my first hiking-funk of this season. I've been pushing big miles, hard and fast, and I think the pressure I put on myself was finally registering. There really should be no pressure, but like they say-- wherever you go, there you are. Like so many times before, the fates aligned and staying at Standing Bear was a guy I'd met for a hot second last year up in Maine. His name is Bones, and he is buddies with two of my favorite NoBos from '08. I didn't think I's be catching him for awhile but there he was. Super nice guy, very mellow. Just what I needed. Yesterday we had a leisurely mornign before heading out for a low mile day. Bones hiked with me all day, depsite the fact that I've never been so slow in my life. We were going to camp on Max Patch, a huge bald mountain top, but the wind was intense so we came off the bald just into the tree line and set up a little camp. A bunch of the others from Standing Bear rolled in and in no time at all we had a sweet little camp established with food, fire, music and good people. The funk was history. There's a very aggressive bear marauding through that area so we all hung our food together. Figured it'd be best that if we were gonna get hit by the bear that we all go down together. This morning I was the first up and about and the food was intact. We win The weather has been beautiful and it is supposed to stick which is great. I left early this morning and cranked out 20 miles to get into Hot Springs by 1:30. Why do I do these things? I actually have a reason this time... there's a charming little inn here that cooks organice vegetarian breakfast and dinners for the guests. Right up my alley. I was nervous they were going to be full so I felt it imperative to get in early. Happily I got a room and am kickin it in town right now. I haven't taken any zeroes yet so I am going to stay here in Hot Springs until Saturday, possibly Sunday. See how I'm feeling... So, all is well. The woods are beautiful. The leaves are starting to bud, there are wildflowers trail side. I'm meeting some interesting people and seeing some amazing sights. If I can get off my own case a bit everythign will be swell. I'm working on it...