Date: 2018-04-05
From: Long Branch Shelter

To: Winding Staircase
Miles today: 7.2

Patrick and I woke up with the crowd in the shelter. Everyone was joking around while we were in our sleeping bags. No one wanted to get out because it was so cold. People were talking about getting up early to use the privy even though it was so cold. We got up, put our packs together, and ate breakfast. We headed out around 8:30, our earlier start yet!We had a shorter hike today to winding staircase. It was a pretty easy hike until it was uphill for about 2 miles. It seemed to go on for awhile, but we finally submitted the peak. We met purple streak an older woman who was giving out trail magic. She was hiking a few days earlier but slipped and broke her wrist. She was using the straps on her trekking poles, but that caused her to break her wrist as she fell. Patrick and I haven't been using our straps since Napoleon told us about breaking your wrist. She had oranges, almonds, chocolate, and candy. I hope she comes back to the trail to try again. I've heard of many people breaking something only to return later to the trail.Afterwards it was gradual again until we finally got to winding staircase. At the intersection we saw Walkman giving out trail magic food. We met him earlier on a hike were he gave us Miller Light on the mountain. He wants to live on the trail and get away from a 9 to 5 job. Ron Haven gave us a ride into Franklin. He was a business man who owned the budget inn as well as The Baltimore Jack's hostel. He knew multiple languages as well as Cherokee. He was an encyclopedia of information and even named all 8 presidents from Ohio which I didn't know. We got to the Sapphire Inn and were greeted by our hiker friends. Anne, Wizard, Baywatch, and Aladdin were in the parking lot hanging out.  We grabbed some grub at Mi Casa across the street. Their fajitas were really good. Afterwards we did laundry in our rain gear. I was really sweaty for an hour while we waited for our clothes to be clean.We both had showers and felt much better. Up the hill near the motel, more hikers were hanging out and drinking bud light. That beer was basically water beer to Patrick and I. We gladly accepted free beer though. The hikers were taking about what it takes to get to Maine. It seemed pretty challenging but doable. Another hiker showed up with a bag cheeseburgers from McDonald's. Everyone went to town on those free burgers. Middle brother a hiker who did a thru the previous year said he packed out 5 days worth of McDonald's. Yes, McDonald's will last that long with all those peservatives. Tripp and Elbow showed up, they were a daughter father combo. Tripp was a 53 year old retired Marine. Elbow was a 29 year old cytotechnologist. Tripp said his body was in pain. Since he was a Marine, the doctors just gave him prescriptions. He left and came back with a bottle of Valium and was handing it out like it was candy to all the mid 20 year olds.  He said taking 2 would have you flying in the night.  After hanging out on the hill we headed to the Lazy Hiker Brewery. Middle brother tried to get all 10 of us to hitch a ride to the brewery. It was only a 10 minute walk but he said you shouldn't have to walk more miles than you have to. It was close to dusk and most drivers won't pick up hitchers at night. He was adamant about hitching. After about 5 minutes, Gumby a section hiker, drove to the brewery. That car was packed like a clown car. Middle brother jumped in the trunk, but there wasn't any room for Patrick and I. We ended up walking there anyways. On the way we met up with Wizard and Anne who were just coming from the brewery. We conviced them to go back.  When we arrived at the brewery, Rocking Ronnie was headlining the stage and singing covers. We had heard about him days earlier and all the partying he had been doing in the shelters. They called him Rocking Ronnie because he carried a guitar on the trail which was an extra 20 pounds of weight. Outside people were discussing the new kicks they bought at Outdoor 76. It's a shoe shop with foot expert. It seems that he sold everyone the same type of shoe. I was wondering if he was the music man getting everyone to buy his wares. I might go see him tomorrow to see if he's legit or not.  After the brewery, we followed a group of hikers to the Budget Inn. They had pizza, beer, and two large trays of chilimac from a church event. It seemed that people staying in the room didn't want a party to start. We ate a good amount of pizza though. There were no utensils for the chilimac though. Walkman tore off the side of a pizza box and made a makeshift spoon. He funneled copious amounts of chilimac into his mouth getting little pieces stuck in his beard and on the floor. After we had our fill of food we headed back to the Sapphire Inn.  Everyone was still partying outside when we arrived. It was way past hiker midnight. Walkman appeared with chilimac and salad. We all made makeshift spoons from Pringles can lids, cups, and pieces of lettuce. I believe there's still chilimac somewhere in someone's room at the Sapphire. I won't be surprised if it gets packed out.Hitting the hay at 1 am tonight, but getting up early for free pancakes and bacon at the First Baptist Church!