Date: 2007-04-28
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up this morning feeling horrible. More advil and gatorade. Went to the diner again for breakfast with BigBy. We decided we would hit the spa again so we went and grabbed SideShow and headed down to the spa for another hour in the hot spring mineral water jacuzzi. We got done and bought some cherry sodas for the walk back. Around lunch, ByteCode, ChurchMouse and I went down to the pub for some lunch. There was only one waitress and there was a decent sized crowd. We set at table outside for 45 mintues and she never said a word to us. ChurchMouse said he wasn't hungry so he headed back to the room for a nap. ByteCode and I went down to Sweet Sensations for lunch. We had a couple of nice sandwiches and chips. He got a rootbeer float just for fun & inhaled it. Nice place for lunch. TrailFest was getting kicked up right about then so we checked that out. Some guys who ranked #1 in the North Carolina Chili Cookoff were there giving away free chili, brats, hotdogs, burgers and beer to thru-hikers. One of the guys thru-hiked a couple of years ago so he was really cool. Thanks for the chili & beer guys. Some guy did a live dulcimer concert and then a couple of different bands followed throughout the day. There was a guy forging metal. That was awesome. It started to rain just a little but no one cared. My parents came rolling in around 12:30 on the Goldwing. It was so good to see them. They couldn't believe I was wearing a kilt. My dad made a few dress & skirt jokes as is to be expected. We checkout trailfest for a bit before heading to the pub for a couple of pints. We went back to the room and my mom got her computer set up for everyone to use and my parents headed back to the Duckett House Inn just up the road where they were staying for the night. I went back to trailfest for a while and then apparently while I was away they guys talked to Miss Janet, the famous hostel owner form Erwin, TN. She talked the guys into putting on wetsuits and grabbing some nets an standing out in the middle of the stream that crosses mainstreet in order ot catch some rubber ducks. So Grizzle, BigBy, I-AM-NOT, and SideShow were to be the official duck wranglers for the trailfest duck race. The duck race is where about 500 people buy a rubber duck with a number on it and they all get dumped in the river and first few to pass the finish line get prizes. When they were to have the duck race, I went over to the Vortex's little cabin because it was right next to the finish line so I had the perfect view of it. I'm standing there with the Vortex crew, drinking a beer and all of a sudden the crowd from trailfest that had gathered on the bridge and the bank opposite to me started going nuts. I look over to see my buddies in wet suits jumping into the river. They were getting into position fo rthe ducks. Not long after that we could see the ducks rounding the bend and everyone started cheering for their duck. After they crossed the finish line it was the guys job to catch the ducks before they were lost downstream. There were a lot of ducks and the guys had one hell of a time catching them all. They did pretty good, only 3-4 got by. The guys went up to the bar after they changed clothes because they got 2 free pitchers for their effort. I hooked up with my folks & my mom, dad, Choch & I went up to the pub for a pitcher and some pretty good burgers. After that we went and got a table outside and sat for hours. The rest of the guys came and hung out with us and we talked about good times, told stories, and look at pictures. Just before dark, BigBy and my dad walked back down to the bike which they parked at the hotel. BigBy never rode on a motorcyle before so my dad offered to take him on a ride. They came by and went down Hwy 209 which is my dad's favorite road. When they back back, my dad said BigBy was giggling over the radio the whole time. Dad said they hit 100 mph for a minute. BigBy was grinning from ear to ear when he got back. He loved it. My folks chilled with us for a little bit after that then they left to go back to the Inn. The PainTrain headed down to the Vortex's place and partied with them. We had a good time until about 1am & Grizzle, SideShow & I headed back to the room. Time for bed.Later,BigShanty