Date: 2018-06-03
From: Ned's farmhouse

To: 4 pines hostel
Miles today: 7.9

Last night I was able to sleep longer after using an ankle brace. It kept me from moving my ankle in the night causing a sharp pain that usually woke me up. My tent was wet from the dew on the lawn. I got up and walked to the kitchen. Pumpkin Spice had started cooking eggs, bacon, and biscuits for everyone. I took over the French press and started making coffee. All 10 of us ate breakfast together like a real family again. We felt civilized because we were sitting at a table. A mountain biker who was staying at the house offered us a ride back to the trailhead. He said he was leaving in about 30 minutes to head back home. Kazi and I rushed to pack up. About 15 min in he asked if we were ready but we were not. He hovered over us as if it would make us go faster. Kazi said he could leave and we'd get a ride with Ned, but said he was in no rush. He offered to help us pack up, but we knew how to pack our packs and it would be more of a disservice. After 30 min we were ready and got a ride back to the trail head.  Back on the trail we heard that dragon's tooth would be a technical climb. Kazi was worried about getting Theo down it. It would be test for him when we get to the whites in New Hampshire. We had about a 4 mile climb up to the tooth. It was part ridgeline and part trail. At the top, Kazi followed the AT down the technical side without seeing the blue blazed trail for the tooth. She was more worried about getting Theo down safety. I took the short .1 mile to dragon's tooth. It was two jagged rocks that shot up from the ground. Apparently you could climb on them but I didn't know at the time. I hiked back to the AT from the tooth. It was steep slanted rock for a half mile. Some parts even had ladders built into the rock to climb down. There were also many day hikers coming up and I had to shimmy past them. I finally caught up to Kazi. Theo apparently handled that area like a mountain goat. We took a break and I drank my packed out PBR. Theo looked tired from the strenuous hike today. We hiked down to the road and started hiking to 4 pines hostel. Joe the hostel owner drove by and picked us up on his way back.  The hostel was donation based. It was on several acres of land with chickens, Ginny hens, and dogs. The hostel itself was built into a 3 car garage. It had a large common area with old couches and a makeshift kitchen. Kazi and I were hankering for an all you can eat place called Homeplace. They served southern food and it was supposed to be really good. Scissors told us that we had to go. We asked Joe for a ride and he said to take his mini van to the place. I couldn't believe he'd just let me drive his car but he did have a few junkers on the property. On the way to Homeplace I got lost but Kazi led me back on the right path. Homeplace was a large farmhouse that was converted into a restaurant. Kazi was also meeting a news reporter there who had found Kazi's article online. She met the the reporter in the parking lot. The lady was perfectly dressed and smelled really nice compared to our hiker trash clothes and BO smell. I'm glad that she found interest in Kazi's story and would help get the word out about Matt's Purple Bandana. In the restaurant I saw Two Crows and hung out with him. He had eaten 4 plates of food and was ordering dessert. I started my food challenge. They brought out fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw, roasted apples, biscuits, and roast beef. Everything was refillable! I filled my plate and devoured the whole thing in about 2 minutes. It was all really good. Kazi finished the interview and loaded up her plate as well. I got through about 3 plates of food and felt full but not sick full. Kazi and I were planning on hiking more but after all the food we decided to stay at the hostel. We convinced Two Crows to come back to the hostel as well. As we were leaving 3 other hikers needed a ride back to 4 pines. It was just Kazi and I but now we had a full carload. On the way back we needed a short resupply at the gas station. It had what we needed but at a premium. Another hiker joined the caravan back to the hostel.  Back at the hostel the rest of the crew showed up. They got beer and pizza from the gas station.  We sat in the field on adirondack chairs watching the sunset. I was hungry again and hiker hunger has finally set in. Theo was happily giving love to everyone when the hostel owner's dog suddenly attacked. He bit Theo on muzzle, luckily it was only a scratch. I believe that dog was jealous of all the love Theo got. I gave Theresa a call to see how she was doing. It was great talking to her after just seeing last week. I do miss her out on the trail. I eventually got tired and tried to go to bed. All the lights were on and people were being loud in the common area. Pumpkin Spice made the decree that he'd turn off the lights in 10 minutes. It was almost 11 pm and way past hiker midnight. The lights went out and I climbed into my bunk.Tonight it's warm in the hostel garage. I hope I can sleep through the night.