Date: 2007-12-19
From: Elmer's

To: Elmer's
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

mi. 0sleep hosteldest. Elmer's, Hot Springs NC day 158 Well we were planning on hiking out today and doing either a 13 or 18 out of town. Well that didn't happen. We were almost packed up when Oblivious came in and said his foot hurt and he was looking into slacking 8 miles back into town. After some talk we decided that a zero would be the best call. I needed a vacation from my vaction anyways. Side note. I determined a good gauge for a vacation. I figured this out awhile back and think I didn't put it in yet. I think a gauge for a good length of a vacation is if you can take a vacation from your vacation. Everyone needs days off. Even fun vacations are tirering. So you should be able to take a day off. Short vacations you feel bad about wasting a day. If I were to section hike I would figure in 12 to 15 miles max, with 1 zero day for every week. It gives you a lot more options and takes a lot of stress away. Breakfest was another meal at the dinner. Were I completly piged out. But I'm aloud. After that we sat around and watched the movie Tigerland. A very dramitic movie to finish at 11am. After the movie Elmer came in and said he had some buisness to do and Ashville and would take us along if we wanted to go. Of course we jumped on it. Ashville is a cool little town of 100,000 or so. It has a small feel to it. He dropped us off on what is refered top as Hippie street. A street with a bunch of little shops. We cruised that area for awhile. Lunch was another big meal. Burger this time for me. I did get a chance to try a really good blackberry beer from CO. Definitly the highlight of the meal. From there we saw a general store. It was more of an outfitter candy store than anything else. For being in a trendy area where everyone wears outdoor clothes for fashion it had a good selection. I passed someone talking about how he wanted a jetboil. I chimed in that it was a great piece of gear and served me well. He just looked at me and said yes and moved on. He would probibly have paid more attension had I said how much use I get out of it. Outfitters have turned into hours of enjoyment. We have been theorizing about the perfect traveler kit. Something that would work over a varity of places, not nessaceriarly backpacking. More world travel. I'll go over had we came out with after it is finalized. We spent forever getting ideas here. From there it was art gallaries. I keep looking at the photos. Some were of places we had been on the trail. I am trying to take better ones myself. I think looking at a lot of professional photos will help mine. I'll have to work on that more for the next hike. I already got my next couple hikes worked out. Once again I saw a crazy thing, but I wasn't able to get a pic. I even had my camera with me. We saw a guy on a motor scooter. Full helmet and wind gear, carrying a sword on his back. A sword. It was in it's sheath, but still. I wonder where he was going. That's why I love people watching. No telling what you are going to see. We met Elmer at the used book store. I scored a new book. I was getting lost in On the Road and needed something funny to read. I scored anoher Douglas Adams book, "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency". It should be worth a good laugh. We talked Elmer into stopping at a liquer store on the way back. Got to have something to give me an artifical feeling of warmth. I'll take any kind of warmth I can get. Back at the hostel we met a new southbounder. He started August 1st and just caught up. He goes by "All Good". Good guy. I swear I am going to meet a new southbounder in GA. I think there is a huge bubble in front of us. The last group came through on the 8th. Oblivious heard they are going to summit in the next couple days. Firewook has finished by now too. I would say there is no southbounder within a week plus in front if any. I know of 5 behind me. Tonight Elmer had diner. It is solely vegatarian. Great meals though. For only $9. It was a full 4 course meal. Starting with a great soup and salad. He makes killer dressing. Followed by a curry rice dish. Dessert was a cocanut milk pudding thingy. It was spectacular. Followed by some perperment tea. Probibly the best cooked meal I had one the trail. It was fun to sit and talk with 4 other thru hikers, Elmer, and his helper. We talked for a good while after eating. He also possed 1 question at every meal. You introduce yourself and then answer the question. It is a fun way to get the conversation going. The question was you are alive after the Apocilipse. You are in a room with 2 other people and 1 canned food. What are they? I chose Chuck Norris for one. Come on, no one could mess with us. We were driving back and saw a sign that made me think of it. It said "Chuck Norris sleeps with the lights on, Because the dark is afraid of him". Yeah I thought!it was awsome too. The other was Douglas Adams. The conversation with him would never be dual. It would be halarious. For my food item I had to choose Skyline Chilli. It's a Cincinnati thing. Sweat chilli over spag noodles covered in chz. Greay stuff. After dinner it was more moves. This time it was Blades of Steel. Another crazy funny stupid movie. Just my type.