Date: 2011-03-29
From: Hot Springs

To: Little Laural Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

The day happened in 5 mile increments: I woke up before the sun and ate cold pizza from last nights supper, the butter came down and wrote in her journal. She asked if Peach and Andy wanted to go to the diner. I said I didnt think they wanted to from what I heard the night before. Plus I didn;t want to wake them up. She wasn't convinced, so she went to open Peaches door when peach opened the door and freaked out for a second. She almost peed herself. So they all ended up going to the restraint , I went off to conquer teh 20 miles to Little Laural Shelter. So I headed walking on the sidewalk where there are all these markers embedded in the sidewalk, then all of a sudden they stopped and I had to look for the blazes. There was a Y and I guessed which way to go and a guy in his car told me I missed the trail and pointed me in the right direction. I had put on all my layers and Soon I was sweating. The trail had gotten steep and i got lost once, but caught myself in good time. I hiked a lot of uphill and walked along some roads seeing no one.2ND segment of 5 miles I ran into Jack and Isaac two thru hikers digging in a cooler . TRAIL MAGIC I grabbed 2 apples and a power bar. I spent the 5 miles playing leapfrog with those two. I learned Isaac had part of a thermarest pad across his waist, happens he's too skinny for his hip-belt. they would take a bunch of breaks and I presses on. I was ahead of the,m when I saw a whole group of people happens they were Peach, Andy, Diva and Butter, all walking together. I was happy to see them because I knew then i was o the correct trail, but i knew if I didn't keep a good pace they would pass me. But then, there it was the shelter (Angelic Music) Then there was lunch, I had my peanut-butter with milkduds, which slowed down the process of eating considerably, since they were cold. Peach said there wasn't a pipe when she went down for water, but I found it. When Andy popped out his sandwich from the diner I asked if he got is at a Wendy's. And Peach was like That's a dumb question Did you see a Wendy's at Hot Springs. I changed to shorts in the privy where the door only shut when someone wasn't in it, like the engineer didn't know people have knees.Part 3 five Mile section We hiked all five of us in a parade fashion. the downhills were like tiptoeing down slow and uphills were a bit of stretch would have been nice reversed. Butter lead the way. Then we ran into a sign announcing a dinner a bit of a walk away. we found the steep driveway, I dropped my pack and ran up arriving at the house first. Then man there Hercules said "Welcome home" the Place was a beautiful cabin. Hercules introduced himself and asked our names, had us take off our boots. Sitting at a family table I was asked if I wanted a waffle, Put butter on it, ate it with a fork and a knife. Got a tall glass of milk, drake 2 and a half cups. Then got a big bowl of soup of meaty stew, but couldn't finish it and gave half to jack. Then we had 4 options for dessert. All including ice cream, one was a banana split and other a brownie, one called decadent and apple crisp. We had lots of laughs and I was SO full. we were all wondering how we could possibly hike, They were Christians from their vibes they gave us a selection of books we could take, including 'the case for faith'. I felt like I was having church. I asked how many miles we had to go and peach said "5 miles but it's only 3" How is it 3?, I was so confused. "3 o'clock" She made me feel stupid, but I was in the clouds. 4th five mile section I lost my group going slow, I was very full. At the shelter some guy made a fire and this guy here made hot chocolate Ramon. The Shelter was full I was the last to show up and the only one that tented.