Date: 2013-04-19
From: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn, Hot Springs, NC

To: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn, Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0

It took a little while to fall asleep last night, but once I did I slept really soundly. I woke up a little before 7 a.m. and decided to treat myself to a soak in the claw-footed down the hall. I marveled at the bathtub hardware. After a year and a half of home renovations, I marvel at things I used to not look at twice. It took a little bit to figure out how to work the drain system, but soon I had a lovely tub full of toasty warm water awaiting me. I climbed in and stared out the long swirled glass windows. The trees outside were swishing in the breeze. We were expecting a big storm today, but it still looked pretty benign. The bath was wonderful, but the truth is I don't have a lot of patience with them. I usually wait a lot longer for the tubs to fill than I spend in the tub.I got out and got dressed and headed downstairs. The house was still asleep, so I snuck out onto the back porch and opened my book. I've been dragging TWO books around for the last 100 miles, and if anyone finds out I'm going to be shamed off the trail. So I'm in a rush to finish the current one in order to leave it behind when I leave tomorrow. It was getting close to breakfast time, and I was able to snag a cup of coffee before being shooed out of the kitchen. The hotel guests milled about the parlor and foyer until the breakfast bell was rung. Then we filed in and took our places around the dining room table. The table was hosting heaping plates of pecan pancakes, bowls of granola, bowls of fresh strawberry syrup, fresh canalope, and of course, coffee. Elmer joined us, and we went around the table introducing ourselves, and then we dug in. Yum. I also found out that the famous Elmer's vegetarian dinner wasn't going to be served tonight because the Community Center was hosting a spaghetti dinner fund raiser. Bummer After breakfast I got my dirty clothes together and headed down to the laundromat. Pathfinder threw in a couple of pieces. I had waited to the last minute to ensure that everything would be as clean as possible for the departure tomorrow. After carefully washing and drying and folding the clothes, I placed them in a clean shopping bag, and tucked the bag under my arm because I feared that the bag would tear under the weight of the clothes. I headed back to the room and was about half way back when I saw Pathfinder. I crossed the road to join her. We walked and chatted, and just as I was skirting the edge of a mud puddle the top layer of clothes tumbled out of the bag and landed in the water. I reached down quickly to scoop it up, and Pathfinder's clothes fell out. The quicker we reached and grabbed, the quicker the clothes fell out. Somehow I had managed to hit the one mud puddle in a two block stretch of road. I took my clothes inside and washed them again in the bathroom sink.The rest of the day was spent running errands and checking off my to-do list: finish Trail Journals updates, mail boxes- one with excess food to Erwin, TN, one with my excess gear to my parents-in-law, food resupply, etc. Pathfinder and I had pizzas for lunch and watched in awe as drenched patrons came in out of the rain. By now it was raining cats and dogs. I chatted with Dante, Banyan and Matt at Elmers. I got to talk to Tom and my parents. We went down to the tavern for a couple of beers, but at hiker midnight we were ready to turn in. Town life has been nice, but I'm really ready to head back out. I've eaten really well. I've rested really well. I've blown through a lot of cash between hotel/hostel stays, restaurants, and gear adjustments. I also discovered that I'be actually GAINED about 3-5 lbs. I've stepped on three different scales, and while the numbers have varied the needle direction continues in the upward direction. Maybe I should lay off the Snickers. HA! That's not going to happen ?