Date: 2014-04-06
From: Erwin, TN

To: Charlotte, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Nothing Says I Love You Like BBQYou know what? I'm really full. Slightly ill feeling, in fact. I've had a grand time during my two and a half days off the trail. I spent my first day kind of moping, though. It's a real bummer to be sitting in a hiker hostel on a fine day when all around you people are preparing to do the very thing you are incapable of doing. To add insult to injury my two bunk mates were both fine lookin', speedy fellows, named Achilles and Sea Biscuit. Real athletes who seem to specialize in marathon length days. I lay on my bunk, left leg elevated, awash with envy as they went through their packs on Saturday night and talked about making the 120 mile trek to Damascus in 5 days. Every once in a while they'd throw a pitying look my direction and try to sooth my sadness with the offer of another beer. Boy, Yuengling's some good stuff. After about 1 1/2 of those I started seeing some of the better aspects to my position.First, I was in town. Town means food! And what's more I had access to ice, a real bed, constant company of I wanted it and lots books if I didn't- hostels are repositories for some of the best trash literature you could ever wish to get your hands on. It's heaven!And the best thing? My dad was coming to Erwin to see me. Let me be upfront on this subject: I like my dad. And he's particularly fun to travel with. He's laid back, a good conversationalist and flexible. The perfect companion for a long car ride. He can whistle almost as well as Roger Miller and he's got a ready sense of humor. I know I'm a little biased, but seriously: he's the best dude I know. So as Sunday rolled along I became more and more pumped. A bunch of my friends from trail began to trickle in and camaraderie buoyed my spirits further. I spent the day soaking up sun on the deck and enjoying the group prattle. At about 4 my dad pulled into Uncle Jonny's driveway and I just about vaulted the 10 yards to throw my arms around his neck. Bum knee be damned. Sloth commented, "I've never seen you move that fast, even when you feel good." Observant fellow, Sloth. I packed my stuff and Dad and I spent the evening catching up over dinner and 2 games of Cribbage (I lost badly). This morning we got up and ate the best breakfast the Super 8 could provide and then stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few breakfast items that I could drop by the hostel as trail magic. Then we headed over to Asheville on search of an outfitter. Two hours later I limped out with the most beautiful pair of Solomon trail runners I've ever seen. Once we got back out to the car after my perfect purchase we looked at each other and realized the it was only noon and we had a whole day with no plans to fill it. After a few minutes of thought our minds turned towards food. My brother and sister-in-law swear by a BBQ place in Asheville called 12 Bones. Elizabeth, my S-I-L, goes a little dreamy eyed at the mention of their collard greens. So we decided to check it out. As we drove along, though, we realized that, according to out GPS, we were only 2 hours from Charlotte where my brother, sister-in-law and niece live... Hmmm. Free housing for the night! And a laundry machine! Double win, that.So we made a call to them, got the BBQ to go (wow, what a place, by the way. It was crazy packed and all the walls were covered in bumper stickers. It smelled so good I could have swooned) and headed on over. The entire ride I was aware that there was a rack of ribs, a pound of pulled pork, collard greens, jalape±o cheese grits and coleslaw resting right behind my seat. Sweet torture!!!We got to Charlotte and my niece was just up from her nap. She turns 1 on Wednesday and she's pretty cute. She's fully aware of her cute factor, too, and uses it without a lick of shame. It's difficult to resist the urge to spoil her rotten. We spent the afternoon eating good food, playing 1 year old games, doing my wretched smelling laundry (oy! It bad!) and enjoying some unplanned family time. It was perfection. I am full and happy and looking forward to hitting the trail tomorrow afternoon.