Date: 2007-05-19
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn, Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

5/19 13.1 miles, 7.5 hours, $40.95I crinkled all night last night in my mylar wrap. I had earplugs in; when I took one out because my ear itched I couldn¢t believe how noisy I was. I crinkled when I breathed, and whenever I moved my hands. The boys got even and woke me up at 6:30am. They hadn¢t left by 8am, when I did. They didn¢t pass me all day, either. There were some tourists out today - I kept banging into one couple who invited me to their campsite for dinner. The main reason for my marathon today was to get to a phone before my kid left for the weekend and I wouldn¢t be able to talk to him for another week. I hobbled on down to town with feet so sore the smallest little rock or root hit the wrong way would nearly bring me to my knees. I was most definitely limping on the sidewalk at Hot Springs. I checked into Democrat Vegan Zen Elmer¢s and found out they have a phone, but you can¢t use it until after 10pm. They have washer and dryer, but it¢s only for staff use. I saw a staff member on a computer, but I didn¢t bother asking about Internet. ¢We have no meat in the house¢ is what I was told; I don¢t know if that meant I wasn¢t supposed to have it either. I dragged my pack down to the basement room and went across the street to the Quickie store to use the pay phone. Of course, I got the machine. No kid for a week. Bummer.I bought bread, bologna, and drinks then went back to the hostel, ate two sandwiches and showered. I hobbled back across the street again, sans undergarments (boing, boing) to do laundry. They had a big $4 machine to do sleeping bags, so I did everything in there. BluePrince was there finishing up. It¢s pretty bad when an 80-year old can kickyourass hiking. When I got back, I had to drag my pack upstairs because they wanted to put me in with a girl from Denmark. My feet and back were sooo tired, I just found everything to be very inconvenient. I didn¢t sit down to relax until after laundry, 6:30pm, and if I would¢ve been hassled again in any way, I was going to tell them to cancel my place at dinner because I was so exhausted. I should¢ve. I asked before I signed up at 4pm what was for dinner; I was told ¢They never say¢. It was lukewarm pasty-thick orange colored potato soup, salad that smelled like feet with one choice of rotten-tasting dressing (I¢m glad I put it on the side), veggie enchiladas which were VERY good, wimpy ¢mexican¢ rice, peppermint tea (I don¢t drink tea), room temperature water, and an awesome pineapple pie of some sort (which I dreamed about that night). Dinner was $10, and I¢m sure it was worth it, especially to a vegetarian. Tomorrow I¢m having steak at a restaurant. This old house is certainly charming, with 75-year old wallpapers, real pedestal sinks, and antiques, but for convenience I would try somewhere else next time. I¢m too tired now to go downstairs to use the phone at 10:15pm. There¢s probably a line to use it, anyways, with a full house here tonight.Oh, yes, and I weighed myself (after dinner) on an old scale - I¢ve lost about TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS!!! Yay, me! Now, about the other fifty¢¦Thankful for: cleanliness.