Date: 2019-03-27
From: Route 615

To: Route 611 
Miles today: 15.8

I slept better than I thought I would but it wasn't solid sleep. I woke up before midnight and finally at 12:30 listened to my bladder and dawned my headlamp for a jaunt to the porta potty. I returned to bed but every noise kept me awake. I comforted myself by remembering God is with me and keeping me safe. I eventually fell back asleep until my 6:30 alarm woke me. I dressed and packed up what I needed for my day. Mongo came in and made eggs and croissant for breakfast. I noticed he didn't eat and I asked him. He's been fasting. I can only imagine how hard it was to cook and watch me eat. He said grace before I indulged. He had me at the trailhead at route 615 at 8:30 and my plan was to hike nobo 15.8 miles and get picked up at 611. It was 25° when I got out of the car and I stopped a few feet into the hike to put on my hat and gloves and turn on my spot. The first 7 miles were pretty easy and by 11:15 I was at Brushy Mountain Outpost ordering a fried pork tenderloin sandwich with fries. I guess it's a true southern thing and it was recommended so I went for it. It took a while to get it and while I was waiting I observed the owners who were caring for 2 grandchildren while running their small business. It's a reminder of how my son Kyle took his first steps at one of my restaurants and how difficult it is sometimes to make a living and care for your family at the same time. I felt like I wanted to jump in a feed the infant but I'm sure they would have thought I was a crazy sweaty hiker. I washed my lunch down with a strawberry crush soda, used the restroom and exited toward the trail with a serious food baby. I looked longingly at the neighboring picnic tables at the wayside. What I would give to nap there while I digest. But it wasn't to be and thus I continued hiking. The duration of the hike was a continuous series of hiking up and down camel humps. Seriously irritating steep ups and downs that were made more difficult initially because of my full belly and later because the nerve in my foot that was quieted back in July by a big needle is once again waking. Oh Joy. I popped 3 Advil and took my time, texting Mongo when I was a couple of miles from the road. I got there 20 minutes early and sat on a stump in the sun. When Mongo arrived he drove me to the hostel without any stops because I didn't need anything. I got a crash course on the gas heater and on the shower in his RV which he left available to me when he headed out for his friends birthday celebration. I watched Netflix for a bit more than an hour before indulging in the shower. Mister barked at me but let me in and proceeded to show me his toys one at a time. Cute! I showered and dressed and headed back to the hostel after giving a little praise to Mister. I watched the rest of my movie, ate the last half of the sandwich from yesterday and journaled. I was tired and planned to brush my teeth and make a potty run before sundown and crawl into bed. Tomorrow I'll take Mongo for breakfast and wait for my package. When I have that he'll drive me to route 615 and I can hike a nero day. The miles will depend on what time my package arrives.