Date: 2005-04-14
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Secret Hostel
Miles today: 16.3

Make that "a very cool secret hostel"! This has been a very very special day... the kind of day that makes you so fantastically happy to be out here. We left at 10 am out of Hot Springs and had a fast climb out of town. I hiked most of the day with popeye... He is getting ready to sail around the world when this hike is finished. Amazing huh? But wait, I havent gotten to the good stuff yet ! Ya know when you have so much happen in 1 day that you are overwhelmed ? and the words come out in a watered down version... cuz I can't quite describe the moments... That is how I feel tonight. Anyway, we got to the shelter around 2 so decided to hike on. The sun bright and cool on our faces. When we got to a dirt road there was a sign on a post... we stopped and squinted...trail magic down the road ! We were off.. (hey, we are not dumb!) There were hikers coming, going like folks at a train station. These folks had a very pretty log cabin and there we were -- all of the sudden sitting at a dinner table... eating heaping bowls of homemade soup, drinking lemonade.. and congratulating ourselves on our good fortune...yippee ! These wonderful people had hiked in '99 and they were passing on what had been given to them ...and so it goes. He is a retired pilot and in love with the trail. I could see the yearning in his eyes and he watched me put my shoes on..but, I am getting away from myself ! after the stew she put the most fantastic piece of cake in front of me that I gawked at it in delight ! It was coffee, coconut, ice cream and chocolate and I moaned the whole tme I ate it ! and yes..when noone was looking licked the plate.. After that astonishing experience..could things get any better ?!?! Yes ! We hiked out and grabbed Red about a mile up just as he was about to tent and I begged him to hike on with us. I have grown attached to young red headed boy..so off we went a little quartet...about 30 minutes later we see ANOTHER sign..we looked at each other in disbief..again ?? Well, with a glance and much laughter off we went..up a little dirt drive on into paradise...what a log cabin..set deep in the North Carolina woods. A slip of a creek moving slowly thru. I fell hard [not literally] and a smile opened up inside my heart. I knew something wonderous was about to happen.Then the door opened and a small, trim legend slipped out the door.. greeting us with a grin hidden behind a thick salt and pepper beard... and I knew him... believe it or not... Dennis and I had picked him up in Idaho 10 years ago ! He was doing the CDT He remembered that act of kindness and offered me a bunk for free. His name is Nean and he has done the Triple Crown... now 3 times..and he is one sweet, strong, tuff customer. We yacked about mutual friends and trails we hiked... and I feel so connected with the trail commmuniity... that fragile and illusive web of hikers that skims across this country. We all decided to stay... upstairs, in the coolest hostel I have ever stayed at...took an outdoor shower while watching the trees sway in the wind. Not a bad day, eh? This trail is made up of wonderous small moments... that blend into the quilt of each of our hikes...and this day was among the finest of any I have ever had on any trail anywhere. I won't ever forget the comraderie shared by us aspiring thru hikers and a guy who has done them all.. What a great birthday present !