Date: 2018-03-01
From: Laughing Heart Hostel

To: Laughing Heart Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Took a Zero today here in Hot Springs, NC at Laughing Heart Lodge. As far as  a Zero is concerned today was a good day to take one as it rained most of the day. Lots of people here at the hostel with the same idea, including:  the Four Horsemen (Jeep, Night Train, Capt. Blackbeard, Opa), Ghost, T5000, Mainer, Capt. Black, Jersey, Big Load, Sour Patch, Youngblood, No Shoes, and Mary Heather. Laughing Heart is a very nice place with all the amenities that you would expect at a full service hostel (heat, bunks with mattresses and pillows, bathrooms/showers, laundry, kitchen available for use, DVD player with a selection of movies) but the place is quite full/busy. Please don¢t get me wrong, all the folks staying here are very polite/pleasant, but it will be good to get back on the trail and hopefully separate from this hiker bubble that I¢m in.After pigging out on food yesterday I ate in moderation today, did not join those folks that went to the local diner for meals, but instead prepared my own meals here and ate at the hostel. Eggs/toast for breakfast, leftover pizza and an apple for lunch, and a freeze dried meal and fried bologna sandwich for dinner washed down by a milkshake. I did take a walk into town this AM and pickup my maildrop (thanks Kayanne), so I am all set with food  and will be carrying about a 7 day supply when we leave tomorrow. Still too much food as I will be able to resupply again in Erwin, TN in about 5 days, but I¢m ok with that. While in town I also stopped at the local outfitter (Bluff Mountain Outfitters, they are excellent), where I bought a new stove yesterday (I am making the switch from alcohol to a compact propane stove) and got my AT Passport stamped by them. The AT Passport is a small book that one carries, which can be stamped by participating vendors. Kind of a neat way to document my stops along the trail. I also mailed home some gear that I don¢t feel I¢ll need anymore in an effort to lighten my pack, including:  my microspikes (I¢ve jinxed us now, we will get a snowstorm for sure), my polypro bottoms base layer (I haven¢t worn them yet, and never have a problem keeping my legs warm), my alcohol stove/accessories, and a second pair of liner gloves (Amy, those possum wool gloves you got for me work great; when it¢s raining I can keep them dry by wearing my thin outer shell mitts - and even when wet, they keep my hands warm).I also did my laundry, took another shower, and got in a nice snoozer that I desperately needed (I didn¢t sleep very well last nite as the bunkhouse was stiflingly hot).  I also took the opportunity to upload my photos to the cloud as the WiFi connection is decent, make a few phone calls and respond to texts. I also had the opportunity to facetime with our son Eric and granddaughters Elena and Evelyn. The most challenging aspect of my hike is being away from family.  PS Grandkids:  I have been practicing the song, it goes like this:  head, shoulders, needles and bones....needles and bones. How am I doing?I also took the opportunity to repair a hole in my pack that was apparently made by a mouse that fell into a water bottle pocket several nites ago and chewed its way out. I am very diligent about making sure that no food or scented toiletries (e,g. toothpaste) are left in my pack overnite, but apparently the little fella was exploring and dropped into my water bottle pouch with no way out. A little tenacious tape to the rescue. I am safe, warm and dry tonite in my bunk at the hostel, looking forward to getting back on the trail tomorrow.