Date: 2012-06-12
From: Walnut Mountain shelter

To: Hot Springs Resort & Spa, Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Actually last night turned out fine. I thought I would be wiping up water every 30 minutes but the ground cloth "dam" stopped the water from coming in. I was warm and dry and got the best night's rest so far. I woke up at 5:00 and heard silence - meaning it was NOT RAINING. When I got up (slept thru 5:30 alarm) at 6:00, I was thinking as long as I could pack up camp with no rain, it would be OK to hike in the rain. But the sun burned off the mist and the day turned out sunny and warmThe hike was on nice but slippery trail. I twisted my ankle but got up walking again and didn't really notice it because the soles of my feet felt like they were being sloughed off by the wet shoes and dirty wet socks. Now my ankle has blown up like a grapefruit. I will think about this tomorrow. But at the time it happened I called the resort from the trail and changed my hot tub to 8:00 so I wouldn't have to worry so much about making good time.Only saw Third Leg from the shelter and one south bound hiker all day. In the afternoon, I got such bad d©j vu I wondered if I had gotten turned around and was going south. But eventually I heard a train whistle and started descending. The AT is routed straight thru the town of Hot Springs. When it leaves the woods it ends up in a typical suburban neighborhood but with AT symbols emblazoned in the sidewalk. The town is so cute - about 3 blocks long Got into town around 3:30 and went to the Dollar General and got tortillas (for lunches) and handiwpies and paper towels (to try and clean my gear). Then to the outfitters to pick up my mail drop and some stove fuel.I went to the resort campground and waited at the guard post with the sign "back in 15 minutes". These 3 rafter guys drove up and one of them said "At least we have something nice to look at" and looking at me. Hadn't bathed or changed clothes in 6 and a half days - felt very un-pretty.Checked into my adorable 1 room cabin and went for a SHOWER. Then went to the laundromat. I used to use my Tyvek ground cloth as a toga while I was washing my hiking clothes but this year my ground cloth is clear plastic. Oops!So I wore short-short silk PJ bottoms and a yoga top at the laundromat. It was a very "People of Walmart" look. While getting change for drying, the change machine wouldn't recognize my bills. Put on wet shorts, stuffed wet clothes in a bag, and went to the Spring Creek Tavern.I didn't think I was hungry because I couldn't get myself to eat lunch. I had taken a bite of my remaining snacks but I couldn't eat them. But at the brewery I ordered pulled pork with grits and just gobbled it up, so then I ordered a Cobb salad.By the time I got back from dinner, I had only a half hour before my hot tub time. I hurriedly hung up the wet clothes and showered the muck off my tent and ground cloth.The hot tub was outdoors in an enclosed area with a bamboo grove next to the French Broad river. I could see the sun setting and the lightning bugs coming out.Cleaned a few more things while trying to decide if I can really keep going tomorrow - keep going back and forth.My body is a wreck - blisters, rashes, chafes, seeping bug bites, blown out ankle, hands so swollen I have trouble opening ziplocks.... on and on. Keep changing my mind.