Date: 2010-04-22
From: Erwin

To: Erwin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

4/22Zero day in ErwinI had expected to leave this morning. However, all the folks I came up here to hike with decided they needed a day off. So I had one of those unexpected zero days that has benefited me so much in the past. I expect to feel like the queen of the world in the morning. Cody and I stayed up until well after one talking. So an extra day of rest is probably a good idea for more than one reason. I ate so much last night that I was really uncomfortable hours later. Dumb move but I was so hungry!  I'm trying to show more restraint today. We helped ourselves to the continental breakfast and also received bread, bananas, jelly, peanut butter, triscuits, and nilla wafers from PATC dayhikers while we were sitting there.After breakfast we walked down to uncle johnny's to get my packages and see people. Only one package, dang. If the other isn't here tomorrow I'll be trying to convince them to reship once it gets here.   The hostel there has a free shuttle into town for lunch and they were very gracious to include us even though we weren't guests. I offered to pay and was refused. It would have been fair to charge I thought. We went to pizza plus for their ayce salad and pizza bar.  As usual I had a great time talking with Aspen and Toothpick.  I hope I can stay in their vicinity this time. The salad calmed my veggie cravings and the pizza filled in around the edges. It was perfect and cheap.  The staff dealt calmly with the locust horde of hikers descending on them. Kudos to them!  I would have fled screaming. I went to the Dollar General next door to pick up a couple of salty snacks, treats to feed Belle (after I check with Stickwalker), and a pair of cheap pajama pants. They should be perfect for in the sleeping bag at night. I don't mind switching to whichever hiking shirt I didn't wear that day, but I didn't have anything other than my fleece pants to wear to bed and it's been getting a little sweaty. Now I'll be rocking the blue plaid in comfort.I was still pretty full from lunch so no dinner run into town for me. Instead I made a couple of sandwiches with the ingredients we were given earlier. One peanut butter and banana, one pb&j. I couldn't finish them!  I guess I've stocked up on calories as much as I need to.  I'm surprised, I didn't think that was possible. I'm planning an earlier night tonight as we plan to walk out fairly early. We have some slightly longer days planned for the next section, despite several predicted days of rain. Hopefully it will all work out.  I think it will. I'm looking forward to seeing Unaka mtn again, preferably without hypothermia this time.  Looks like I still won't be seeing the view from the Beauty Spot, and the various balds probably will be obscured.  A pity, as they are spectacular in good weather. We have hostel options several nights so we can get dried out if necessary. I also received word that I will be seeing my husband again soon. This fills me with relief, glee, joy, and anticipation. I have missed him so much!  He'll be providing my first slackpacking experience so I can spend evenings with him while not losing time on the trail - the best of both worlds.