Date: 2017-03-22
From: Hot Springs NC. Sunnybank Inn

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I can't express how much I liked Hot Springs North Carolina what a cool town I really hope someday I can go back and visit maybe start there and do a hike to Fontana dam anyway it was a pretty big climb from the French broad River up some cliffs to higher elevation I continue to climb most of the day and starting at 3 PM meant that I finished after dark around 930. The shelter which is very small it was full and I can't avoid camped with my head that big tree The way I always do. I slept pretty well until the wind woke me up. There is no threat of rain and I would probably be cold but for my north face 0° bag which I love . It is keeping me warm and I am making this journal entry through talking which I haven't been able to do for a while. I'd have to say to be perfectly honest that I am somewhat physically tired. I haven't taken zero day yet. I don't feel strong enough to hike 20 miles in a day although 15 seems to be not too much trouble. My feet are holding up well. My knees and back and back are also feeling pretty good. Although it was warm and almost 80° when I was in Hot Springs a huge thunderstorm came through while I slept safely inside. This has dropped the temperature back considerably and I'm sure it is below freezing right now and very windy. Although I would prefer to be in the shelter I feel comfortable sleeping outside as I can see all the stars and the chance of rain is probably near zero. I have not begun to get too lonely and I have met up with some of my friends from the days of freezing near Clingmans Dome. That would be sequoia laser snake and Alexis. Also I hiked for a while today with potato and another young woman who is trying to get into med school. There are a lot of nice people out here it's rather enjoyable to talk with them I'm not sure what now many miles I will do today. It is almost 5 in the morning and I need more and I need more sleep. I know some of you wish and I would write more and I can only say it is with considerable weber that I have been able to update this journal with my mileage and a few pictures each night or every other night. My thoughts and my feelings are things that I am not always in touch with while walking around in the woods out here. The place that I stayed in Hot Springs called the Sunnybank in Houston a woman who collected Appalachian folk Music for many years from the locals and three traveling around Hot Springs which to be perfectly honest I can only accurately described as a true hillbilly town. At sometime in the 1920s or 30s a woman from England visited the Sunnybank in and published some of the Appalachian folk music. There was a music room in the house and I took the opportunity to play a little guitar. My calluses are not there. Nevertheless I was able to to strum with fairly good rhythm and I enjoyed playing. I have been somewhat troubled by the business details surrounding the replacement of the roof on my building in Maryland and I have lost a little sleep over it over it. I'm not really sure how that will be resolved. I'm not going to let it spoil my trip and I'm sure it will work out in the end. And may all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace amen