Date: 2009-05-03
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

A Wet Weekend in Hot SpringsThe morning after we arrived in Hot Springs we had to leave the cabin early because of the music festival. It was raining so we weren't really eager to hit the trail. Although the cabin was quaint, we were jonesing for a comfortable bed and a hot shower. So we borrowed a phone - AT&T has no coverage in Hot Springs, or most places on the southern AT we came to learn) and called around. We scored a room at a motel but it fell through when N Da Wind decided to stay another night, ironically, to hangout with us. So we ended up getting a bunkhouse at a B&B for a good price. The bunkhouse turned out to be the attic of a barn with four wooden pallets with yoga pads as beds that could only be reached by climbing a dangerous staircase. We would, of course, have to walk to the main house for a shower and bathroom. But the owners, Brian and Frank, were nice and the house and grounds were beautiful - an anti-bellum mansion with wrap around porch on the banks of a creek. They had a friendly red-heeler named Jack who served as a good playmate for Einstein. They also had hens and rooster that gave us a complimentary wake up call. We took advantage of the day to hit up the diner again for a big country breakfast, catch up on laundry, and celebrate Stone Skipper's birthday at the Iron Horse restaurant. The next morning, we were still desperate for a night's sleep on a real bed and determined not to leave town until we got one. We were also hoping by then that our friends Graveyard and Jess would finally reach town too. So we checked back at the motel and finally got a room which the four of us shared. We headed down to the spa for an hour long soak in the mineral tubs since we hadn't had a chance to do that the day before. They pumped the warm spring water into the tub and gave you an hour to soak while overlooking a cool running river. Afterward, we hit up the bar for a few cold ones and another giant burger in the outdoor beer garden. While we were there, a shuttle pulled up and out jumped Graveyard and Jess. We celebrated a happy reunion by sneaking into the music fest with some other hiker we met at the motel: Red Lion, Moe, 10x10, and Gnarly. The festival, promoted as a bluegrass fest, was a collection of several thousand hippies, deadheads,, hikers and bikers. There was a ground of trapeze artists giving lessons on their trapeze, art displays, and booths selling everything from glass blowing, tie dies, hiking and rafting equipment, traveling artisans, and grilled cheese sandwiches. We got there for the last two acts on the main stage, including the headliner - the Reverend Horton Heat. It was a great show that turned into an impromptu jam in the acoustic tent which lasted well into the night. Since the following day was Jess's birthday, and Graveyard's two days later (and since they offered to spring for another night in the motel), we stayed one more day in Hot Springs to finish off birthday celebrations for a few weeks. Anxious to get back on the trail and concerned about blowing even more money in town, we vowed to get back on the trail the next day.