Date: 2006-03-25
From: The Hike Inn

To: The Hike Inn
Miles today: 0.0

3-25-06The Hike Inn0.0 milesI woke up but lay around for awhile until 7:30AM, while Uncle John was already up and about. I kind of wandered around in a sleepy daze before spying the coffee pot and set around to making the coffee, a luxury to those java-lovers fresh off the trail. Once brewed, I drank some of my hot black liquid while munching on a few cheese danishes. The weather report called for more snow in the Rockies but said it should clear up by tomorrow and will warm up as the week progresses, which sounded alright to me.Uncle John and I headed over to check in with Nancy and Jeff about getting rides. Uncle John was scheduled to leave at three and I scored a ride into town with Jeff, as he was already dropping two other hikers off in that direction. Before I left at 9:30AM, I got a chance to talk to my mom. My plan was to hitch a ride back to be there before Uncle John left so I could see him off and say goodbye.I got to the library and worked on my journal until 1:30PM and then left so I would have enough time to get back to the Hike Inn. I walked over to Ingles to grab some lunch and dinner for later (cheese, bread, and cold chai tea), and then started walking back. Every time I heard a car coming up, I would stick that hitch-hiking thumb out and put on my best won't-you-pick-me-up-I'm-just-a-friendly-hiker face to try to catch a ride. I wasn't having much luck until an older guy in a beat-up pickup truck pulled over and took me about a quarter of a mile before his turn. Walked a bit more, then caught a ride with another older guy with a nice, big truck (people down South sure do love their trucks), who was coming back with feed for his horses. Apparently he breeds them for recreational use and sells them. He brought me to where Rt. 146 meets up with Rt. 28, but that was where I got off, he was going right and I was taking a louie.Probably was only walking another five minutes before a woman in a PT cruiser picked me up. Beth was her name and she owned a general store not too far from the Hike Inn. She had actual passed me going the other direction, but turned around to pick me up, figuring I was a hiker. We had a nice chat on the way there and I thanked her before heading to my room. Apparently Jeff had decided to drive Uncle John to the airport earlier than was expected, so even though I made it there before three, I completely missed my chance to say goodbye, which was a shock and a bummer. I am very thankful that he came out and started this great journey with me.After that, I spent the afternoon drinking cold chai tea and eating French bread with sharp cheddar cheese, while watching old James Bond movies. It¢s somewhat hilarious how sexist they are (Just watch "The Man With the Golden Gun" with respect to Agent Goodnight).I gave Shanae a call and went over the whole Hot Springs rendezvous on Friday, six days from now, but cut it short because Jeff was wanting to get back on the phone. Back to my room to organize the Beast and restuff it. Then back to house to get some aluminum foil and McGuiver myself a wind screen for my new alcohol stove.Some more James Bond and then it was time to call the parents. Couldn't get a hold of Mom, but talked to Dad for a bit. He is really impressed with my journal and that I've been seeing so many people on the trail. I don't think he initially realized what a big thing the AT is.Rest of the night: wrote letters to the family, refilled coffee for the morning, and caught up on all my journal writing. I'm exhausted now and have a big day of hiking tomorrow: nine miles of uphill with a full pack, yippy-skippy. Operation "Smoke the Smokies" will commence tomorrow.Goodnight all.