Date: 2007-10-28
From: Blackburn Hiking Center

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: scattered clouds

mi. 7.9sleep hosteldest. Bears Den Hostel day 108 Today turned out to be an eventful day. All for the good, so a good eventful day at that. I was going to get up and go to church with the care takers this morning. I have been meanin to go to one for awhile. It has just not lined up right. Even though I was staying in the church hostel on a Sunday morning. But everyone thought tonight was daylight savings. So I only got 10 minutes notice to leave my nice warm comfy spot. Needless to say I didn't make it. Next time. I was going to help the maintainer for this section with some work this morning. But he had to go into work at the last moment. I had a ton of time to spare today, so I talked with one of the PATC guys there and he said he could use some help unloading some things. So after a lot of standing around, I helped for a few minutes unloading some wood. The other 3 people there looked to be in deep conversation about what they were building, so that was the extent of my helping. I packed up slowly and enjoyed the warmth from the wood stove. The dry heat from it dried out most of my gear. I should have laid out my hammock, but didn't think about it last night. The nice thing too is they have a pay phone here, so I sent and recieved my emails. I still managed to be hiking by 10am. My goal today was just to enjoy the hike. I wasn't going very far. Really I could have been there in 3 hours. But instead I took 6. This was the first day in awhile that was sunny and dry all day. I found a nice tree and sat and made coffee and lunch. At this time I checked my emails. I have to give Buckaroo and Pacemaker credit. They were staying with Torque and I the night at the 501 shelter when I listed them out. Their's had to be the funniest email I have gotten in quite awhile. Probibly my funniest guestbook entry. I was laughing or awhile about this one. But I will say that the rants still hold true. Everyone I met today knew about what I was doing and said I am in the home stretch and nothing will stop me now. I am writing this entry the next night, behind again. I talked to 3 people/groups today. The first was a couple hunters when I took a wrong turn. Nice guys. The second a day hiker told me the this section is the hardest for 200 miles in each direction and asked if I thought I was going to make it. The 3rd group was 3 section hikers that asked me if I knew it was going to get cold or I was late in the year. Can't escape it for too long. I was almost to where I was headed today when I stoped to chat with a day hiker. He had a pack and poles and had that look that he knew what he was doing. We sat there and chatted for over an hour. I only had a mile or less at this point and wasn't in a hurry. He was from GA and was hiking on the AT down there last week. H told m about a hiker h met and his name. It was a guy Catz told some stories about. Small world. He also told me one of the better saying I have heard in a while. He was hiking in Norway and they have a saying. The weather is never too bad, just your clothing. I hadn't heard that before. I think that is pretty on. I got to the hostel before checkin. The main part is locked before 5pm. They do have a hiker's lounge though. It is actually the place where you sleep. Funny thing is the combination to the lock is a mileage from there to somewhere else. Only something long distance hikers would know. I got in and sat and relaxed. I was sitting watching some nfl postgame when the hostel manager came down and said they were having some food later if I wanted to join them. Of course I said yes. I lucked into staying here on the prefect night. Lori who runs the hostel and goes by the trail name Queen Diva, is leaving. She is planning on opening a hostel in the south, if I remember hearing right. Maybe I'll see her when I get down there. I went from eating pizza and ice cream tonight, what comes with a night here for $25, to eating a great Mexican meal with tons of dessert and only charged the bunk and shower rate of $14. What can I say other than it all works out in the end. This place also has free internet and long distance for hikers. So I was able to check in on how things are going online. And since I was the only person there I could watch whatever I wanted. Not to mention take the bunk facing the tv and watch it as I fell asleep. Oh and I almost forgot to mention another great stroke of luck I had. I was talking with Scot and Maurie, the caretakers for the blackborn center who were at the party tonight. Side note they are taking over the Bear's Dean hostel. Great people that I think will do a great job. He mentioned to me and a couple there that I was hiking south. They take in hikers in the town I am going to be in 2 nights from now. So I got a free place lined up then.