Date: 2008-05-11
To: Slack at Mountain Harbour
Miles today: 12.5

It had rained all night, I had a good sleep in the loft. I was especially looking forward to the breakfast I had heard so much about from others. Mary Hill puts on a spread that would rival a high class Cracker Barrel.Up from the barn/hostel, the path takes you across a creek and up to their big red house on the hill. This is the home of our hosts Mary & Terry Hill and their B&B.Inside it was open and clean. Several of us gathered around a large sitting area, drinking coffee and checking out the weather on the big screen TV. All I could think of, was whether I was clean enough to be in here? This is really posh to be allowing hikers to roam around."Peach & Fuzz" leisurely walked downstairs to join everyone, wearing their bathrobes & slippers. They stayed in the B&B and appearred to have been really pampered.The work that went into preparing this breakfast was obvious to everyone. The food, variety and presentation was primo! What a contrast to be eating on china, with silver flatware. This alone would make tuna & ramen taste a whole lot better!The weather has been getting worse all around the area. Tornadoes have touched down, the winds are always high and of course the rain. Still needing to put in the miles, yet not give up the luxury we are enjoying, a 14 mile slak-pak was the fix. It would rain, then be nice for a while, then rain again and so on. Doing a south slak-pak provides an opportunity to run into people whom are just ahead of you. I was able to run into Chipmonk & Low Gear.Later, I had lunch at Jones Falls. They were 50 ft. falls cascading down wide flat rock, then on down the mountain. I met "Weatherman & Two Mile" for the second time today. Freckles, Sprite & myself climbed out on a log at the base of the falls for pictures. Upon leaving I ran into Clifford & Wayne whom I met on Roan Mountain. I was sorry to hear "Dennis-Two Moons" had to leave due to a severe knee injury. Good Luck buddy!The rain hammered off & on the rest of the day. It even hailed for a while, the weather was really screwy today. The wind blew my pack cover off and I had to go chasing it in an open field on a hillside. I came close to never seeing it again.I can't say I wasn't happy to see that barn loft again. The cabin in the barn was a welcome destination. More people have arrived. The weather is so bad that they are even staying on the porch of the big house.Here tonight are John & Kelly, Party Animal, Red Bull,Diesel,Jersey, Wavepool, Blue Butterfly and 4 others I have never met.Yesterday I was washing in a creek, presently I have had 2 hot showers since then. We took a shuttle to acquire some libation. It was a do-it-yourself carwash converted into a beer store. Therefore, it was aptly named the 'Beer Wash". Next was to go back to that same little restaurant and have another slab of grilled meat.This has truly been an unexpected, happen by chance, what did I ever do to deserve this, special treatment. Who'd a thunk? I'm hiking the AT, I have climbed and lived in the mountains, yet I am here being spoiled and loving it.The wind & rain is brutal outside. It sounds like something on the roof above my head is tearing away and about to blow off anytime?I hope Zeke and the others are staying dry in the Apple House Shelter? This weather would test the limits of any tent, both for waterproofness and durability.Oh and before I forget again, Happy Mothers Day, Mom!