Date: 2013-05-04
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Blackbear Resourt
Miles today: 6.0

I was only going 6 miles to Dennis Cove Rd. to Kincora Hostel to get my box. The south bounder last night had said it was up the hill form the shelter and then a gradual downhill all the way. Why do Southbounders always lie? There was was a good sized up and a steep downhill. I came to the old barn just before the road and checked it out. I poked my head in the window looked around and got creep-ed out. It looked super rundown like it was going to collapse if I breathed on it too hard. I got to the road and took a few steps into the road to read the sign making sure the hostel was to the left. An older guy with a strong boxer dog approached me and we chatted a bit. he asked me if I'd like a ride up the road because he was going that way. I said sure, Now I normally make it a rule not to hitchhike alone or accept ride offer. He had a huge white van with no windows and when he put the dog in I could see it was empty and devoid of seats. At this point I should,ve declined but I didn't. I hoisted my pack up by the passenger seat and got in. The hostel was only .2 up the road so it wouldn't take long. The guy asked me about my journey so we talked a bit. That road was super curvy and I'm pretty sure that we'd passed it already. He thought so to but there was no place turn around. I got my map and phone out but he said there was no service. Argh! I'd gotten in a big old creeper van with an old guy who knew there was no service. I reminded myself that god is in control and started to pray. As we turned around in a tiny gravel spot on the side of the mountain, I learned that he was involved in rescuing dogs.   His job was to help save dogs from death row about to be euthanized and take them to no kill shelters and rescues across the southeast. He could fit up to 15 in his van. I knew then that a guy who rescued dogs for a living couldn't be bad. He found Kincora Hostel and he drove me all the way up the crooked gravel driveway. Luckily there was an for him to turn around in. Whew! Creeper van adventure turned out alright but I wouldn't be doing that again. Kincora looked rather dumpy but they were welcoming. My mom would be there in 4 hours at 3:30. I went through my box eating a honey-bun because it just looked delicious. There were pictures on the walls and roof of past thru hikers postcards (pictures of card on roof). The other guy fro the shelter Snafu, arrived as did Vitamin C and Indian. Vita-C and Indian left to be slack packed the next 9 miles. My mom's eta was now around 5 so I took a shower journal-ed some and ate a burger another hiker cooked and offered me and just relaxed.   I figured my mom would have a tough time with the mountain road and might not be able to find it so I headed down the driveway to stand by the mailbox. She drove up 15 minutes later and my dog was so excited that she climbed from the back seat outside the drivers side window. I'm not sure who was happier, me or the dog. I was excited to see my mom too of course, but not like my dog, because I couldn't tell Bailey where I was or what I was doing! I took my mom around the 30 sec tour of the hostel grabbed my stuff and away we went to town to get dinner. She drove back down the winding road to a Mexican restaurant. I ordered a tasty Dr pepper, beef burrito and chicken quadrille with rice. YUM! I even had left overs. We ran into Vita-C, Indian, Berkeley and Honey-badger. They were all staying at Black Bear Resort down the road so we decided to stay there after dinner. Bailey was so good waiting in the car. We checked into Black Bear where Patchouli and Double D were as well. Bailey met Dixie and Diesel and seemed to like the area or maybe it was just finely having her human. I stayed up late hanging out withe people and checking facebook. It felt weird logging onto facebook for the first time in awhile. I was scrolling down and I realized I didn't really miss anything at all, a few friends were graduating and engagement and a pregnancy.