Date: 2016-03-14
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: few clouds

Monday March 14 Deer Park Mountain Shelter to Hot Springs NC for 3.2 miles and for needed Nero & ZeroOne month anniversary of hiking the AT and living in the woods.As we were passing Laughing Heart Hostel, who are we pleasantly surprised to see....4k, Rabbit and Rooster & Rachel!! We ALL had breakfast at the Smoky Mountain Diner. Steady and Teach (Angela & Zack) arrived first, as they got an earlier start and a good morning surprise by a skunk. No stinky problems, but too close for comfort! 38 and Candle Maker, Fiber had a table with us and we really packed it in!! Food that is!! Fiber ordered double breakfast, thought he couldn't manage to eat it.....but didn't have that problem and I actually finished my meal before Big Cypress, that never happens!!PS I like being in the "bible belt"....bathroom has bible open to Psalm. Hotel rooms have bible out on table, not tucked in the drawer. Scripture written on the walls of businesses!!! Nice and refreshing!!After breakfast we walked the AT Thru the town of Hot Springs, permanent metal AT emblem embedded in the sidewalks here as trail goes right thru town. Checked in to our sleeps for next couple nights at Iron Horse Station & Restaurant. Ray, got us into a jacuzzi room for tonight....at this posting 9:40 pm, we've taken 4 soaks and Fiber, who's room is next to our bathroom (shares a door), took a soak. We unlocked the door so he could soak and then just let us know when he was done so we could lock our bathroom door backup. Thanks to Suds & Subman, who we also saw today and visited with for a while off & on, we took Epsom Salt soak, as they had a lot extra and are heading out tomorrow.Met up with Suds & Subman and even Steady & Teach showed up, at the art gallery/ice cream shop, right next door to the Inn. We had Mint chocolate ice cream and ....wine!! Had a nice time, Then.....We all shopped at the Bluff Mountain Outfitters, they really have what ya need!! And then some!! Big Cypress got new gloves, his wool liners are wearing holes, as are mine, but I love them and didn't find a suitable replacement. We sent home our micro spikes for snow & ice and replaced with lighter Yak Trax....just in case. We've heard there is snow in mountains 50 miles from here. Not sure if these warm temps are at 5500-6000 feet elevation also. But....for $20 and very little added weight, worth the piece of mind. I got a compression sak for my clothes, my bag that my quilt came in has been working, but I'm really giving it a work out and the seam looks like it might say "uncle". Not intended as a heavy duty stuff sak, only a feather quilt bag, so I understand. I also got a knee support brace, highly recommended by Suds & Subman. My left knee is really hurting on the downs. They each have same problem, used the support and no issues after few days. So....praying it works!!Got all our laundry done, it's so convenient....directly across the street. Had a pizza cooked in brick oven at Spring Creek Tavern. Delicious!! Dinner at Iron Horse we ribs, steak & sweet muscadine wine from Duplin Winery, right here in NC. Again....Delicious!!Update trail journals and thank you everyone for prayers, guest book signing and encouragement!! Extra special thanks to Miss Beth "Neon", who warned me about staying hydrated with electrolytes and hitting the wall....I'm/we're doing much better and can't thank you enough for sending us care packages at our next few stops!! Looking forward to them!! (Our mail drops are listed on our journal site).Well, the Iron Horse just went by......Yeppers, the Inn is directly next to the tracks. It is a historic lil town and this Inn used to be a boarding house in the way back. Pretty cool. Except for the train whistle....but all part of the package or get the full affect!! Goodnight, 10:13 pm, way past hiker midnight, now moved to 8 pm due to daylight savings time....Critters: crows, woodpecker, town squirrel