Date: 2014-04-18
From: hot springs

To: jones meadow
Miles today: 21.7

After a great stay at elmers sunnyside inn we set off back to the great unknown. Well we really set off to the gas station for a morning hot chocolate/coffee, then to the unknown. The trail runs right down the sidewalk thru town and after crossing the big river, jump the guardrail and head uphill. Uphill for a very long time. The thing about towns is that it seems there is always a long ass downhill to get there and a longass uphill to get out. This day was no different, we clumb and clumb and clumb. It was a cool morning so at least the sweat wasnt rolling off me. Sweat management is a crucial thing. Once up on the ridge it was mostly regular sized ups and downs. We came across two grave stones, paid respects and told the folks they had a very pretty place to rest in peace. A few random places along the way i noticed a higher than normal amount of singing birds which was nice to hear. I really wish i knew what the little gray birds with the white tailfeathers were. All i know is that they are cute and they like the peanuts from trailmix. Of course i would never feed the wildlife. As we neared Deep gap we saw a broken piece of vinyl siding nailed to a tree, on it was written in marker 'moms store, hikers welcome'. Im a hiker so i thought what the hell, i could always use a cold drink that doesnt come out of a hose hooked to my hydration resevior. Ok, use your imagination to its fullest here, words will not describe this freak show. The 'store' is a very cement brick building with plywood over a couple of the windows. The 2 picture windows not covered are broken. One is beat up pretty bad and the other looks as though it suffered a gunshot wound at some point. The screen door guarding then main entrance just swings freely, the actual door has 2 knobs and a deadbolt. Neither knob works and as a cake topper there is a red rotating warning light in the front window, the one with the gunshot. I was skeptical that this could turn out well. The outside was the normal part of the store. Inside was the lady that owns it, not mom but mom's daughter in law. Mom is dead. So there are three drink coolers that do not have glass tops so you have to open them to see whats inside. Prices are written on chunks of cardboard on the top of the coolers. Quotes from the bible also written on chunks of cardboard hung quaintly from behind the register. A coffee pot with a half pot of brewed this week coffee begged someone to put it out of its misery. That end of the place i could not even memorize. A wood stove was going, a long dusty wooden bench for sitting a radio with the antena wrapped around a basketball trophy, and a couple of childrens sleds are the best i can remember. She did have a freezer with ice cream and a tiny selection of snacks. Captain phillips had his first moon pie. Not sure he will have a second moon pie. I got a grape soda and a can of mello yellow. Chatted with the storekeep for a bit. She went on about her southern drawl and hospitality for just long enough, then we left. Be-fucking-wildered was my first feeling. Next i was happy while i drank down the mello yellow. About 7 more miles to our tent site which is great. Nice little stream for water close by and actually some pretty nice people. One is the trail maintainer, 2 are from new orleans doing a section. They run a pizza shop and are pretty funny. A mother daughter couple are here too, they like to sing bluegrass amd make a valiant effort to do so. I like their dog. Snuggled into my mobile home its just time for bed. Actually its past time for bed. I feel on top of the world today. Nobody could have it this good.