Date: 2015-04-21
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Last night ended in solid fashion. After comleting my journal, I returned to the cabin we were sharing and found Moosehead, Burnsides, and Hobble hanging out around a fire along with a couple from the cabin next door. Nothing to report on - good laughs, inappropriate comments, and tequila.I somehow managed to score the single bed and was soon fast asleep within the embrace of a 3-4" thick mattress. Compared to our sleeping pads on hard ground, it was excellent. Although I didn't sleep soundly or for long enough, it was refreshing. Hopefully I'm able to catch back up on sleep tonight before returning to the woods tomorrow.Up and out at 8am, we all walked across town to the Smoky Mountain Restaurant for some good home-style breakfast. For $9 and change, I enjoyed a feast of 2 buttery pancakes smothered in syrup, 2 eggs (sunny-side up,) 2 pieces of greasy bacon, 4 jelly-covered pieces of toast, a bowl of brown sugar-topped oatmeal, and endless cups of steaming hot coffee. Well done, Smoky Mountain Restaurant.After breakfast Moosehead and I went nextdoor to Dollar General to resupply for the next 5-6 days. Completed at under $30. We then returned to the cabin to repack our newly-purchased food. During this down time, I took the opportunity to call my brothers and shoot out some texts to supporters. The gang then hit a nearby railroad and followed it for half a mile, illegally I might add, to a bridge spanning the French Broad River, tucked in a scenic valley. We had a look around, snapped a few pictures, and secretly waited for a train to appear so we could run from it across the bridge, diving out of its way just before it's too late like you see in the movies. Or maybe that was just me.I then retreated to the local outfitters, Bluff Mountain Outfitters, and grabbed some ibprofen and a knee brace that I've seen several hikers sporting. Afterwards I walked across the street to the post office and sent the only 2 things I was able to talk myself into sending home at this point - more will e entually follow. I then stopped nextdoor at Trail Ministries and had my photo taken, as well as some general info taken down, that'll appear in this year's AT yearbook in October. I then walked next door to the Spring Creek Tavern where I've been the past several hours enjoying company, Coke, a couple beers, and updating my journal. I spoke with a hiker and his dog who, while hiking another trail last year, were almost killed by a tornado. Every time the dog puts on his "backpack" he shakes uncontrollably, most likely remembering the event. The hiker is attempting to help his dog, Shakespeare, feel comfortable again so he can join him on his soon-approaching AT journey.The bar is quickly filling up with today's rush of hikers, fresh from the mountains looking for the same retreat I've found over the past ~36 hours. A few old faces I haven't seen in a few days have caught up - Jeapordy, Martin (from Germany,) and even Tick Tock who is currently sitting next to me awaiting her dinner. It's funny to say "old faces" with people you've only known 2-3 weeks, but it's the culture out here on the trail.Moosehead just bought me a beer via the grab-bag technique where, for $2.50, the bartender randomly selects a beer from a wide variety stuffed in a cooler. Currently enjoying a robust porter called Deep Six. When the times are good, so is the giving.Plans for the rest of the evening include dinner, a shower, and hopefully a good night of rest. It's been a nice little oasis, but the mountains are calling. Hopefully my body will be ready to answer.