Date: 2021-09-01
From: Little Laurel Shelter 

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 19.94
Weather: moderate rain

Quiksilver and I guesstimated that the wind gusts topped 50 mph last night up on the ridge, the wind finally blowing itself out at 3:30 am.  I was repeatedly awakened by my rain fly smacking the side of my hammock- this despite having the pullouts deployed for only the second time all trip. Still, I slept fairly well all things considered. My biggest issue was that I had to have all of my clothes inside the hammock (I have a ridge line mesh basket) so it was fairly odiferous.  I¢ve become fairly adept at packing in the rain - in fact I usually pack up as if it¢s raining even when it¢s not. I got all of my dry gear stowed and the hammock packed up without incident and moved my backpack to the cover of the shelter and then went back to pack up the rain fly and tie downs. Quiksilver was at the shelter and had already retrieved his food bag and mine from the bear cables nearby. Wouldn¢t you know it: despite the high winds and rain, some intrepid mouse had defeated all the varmint countermeasures, climbed the metal cable, chewed a hole through my food bag and ate the corner of my favorite flavor Greenbelly Meal Bar. I couldn¢t even be angry. I have to tip my hat to the little guy, he probably caught grief from his mouse wife for going out in the storm like a fool, but he persevered and ate well. Kudos. We stepped out into the rain at 7:10 for the (nearly) 20 mile hike into Hot Springs.  There were three climbs on the day and as it turned out, all the rain we wanted. There were a few periods where it nearly stopped and there was just water falling from the trees. But for most of the hike it rained steadily. Everything I was wearing was still wet from yesterday, so any attempt to stay dry was pointless. I only avoided the deep puddles on trail but otherwise just sloshed through what was there. Strangely, though I was able to get my feet dry overnight, my hands never did dry off and I started the day with puckered hands and it only got worse. We passed a shelter just over 8 miles into the day, but neither one of us wanted to stop so we just accepted the role of grim and stony hikers and trudged on. Although it really wasn¢t that grim. As I¢ve mentioned before, I really like walking in the rain. There¢s just this happy resignation that comes over me and I love listening to the water fall in the woods. All the hike, we never stopped for anything, not even water.  Quiksilver did snack as he walked but in a major feat for two fifty-somethings: neither of us answered the call of nature!Quiksilver kept egging me on by casually mentioning what we could get in town: beer, steaks, apple pie, coffee, Mexican food, dry clothes, ice cream. He was really shameless. He kept me out in front the entire time, whipping me figuratively with evocative thoughts of food and comfort. It worked. We covered the 19.5 miles by 2 o¢clock. We immediately went to the brewery and changed into dry clothes. Then ordered burritos from the taqueria and went into the taproom for some suds. It was sublime. If you have to be soaking wet, it¢s not the worst thing for it to be a day you¢re heading into town.We checked into the Laughing Heart Hostel just after three after first stopping at Dollar General for this and that and Nilla wafers and milk (I¢m a weak, weak man). Hot showers and laundry were accomplished and we're taking a zero tomorrow to get some chores done (I need a new food bag and pack liner as mine has sprung a leak).  Quiksilver¢s wife Lamb¢s Ear arrives later in the day to hike the next 35-40 miles with us up to the entrance to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park and Bear feeding trail. Turning in (and posting) late for me as it¢s 9:30 right now. I¢m now in my last month on the trail with 275 miles to go and over 1900 miles hiked. Egads!