Date: 2009-04-17
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: clear sky

Leatherfoot called Elmer's Hostel and found out that we needed to be at the hostel by 10 to get a room. I heard Infinity moving around at six and I emerged from the bag at 6:15. I was packed and walking from the site at 7:00. By that time just about everyone else was moving around. Kind of early for some of them, but everyone wanted to get to town. It was an easy hike 3.2 miles into town and I knew I'd be there quite early. I was looking forward to a real breakfast. Floater had passed by the shelter last night, but decided to tent a mile or so closer to town. He said if we passed him in the morning and he was still in his tent to wake him up. I passed him on my way, but he was up, packed and ready to hike. Everybody is looking forward to Hot Springs. I got to town at 8:30 and went to Elmer's, but was told there was a waiting list and to come back at 11 for him to tell us whether we were in or not. Infinity was already there and we headed to breakfast at a diner across the street. Many Names and Huck were there, so we joined them for a wonderful breakfast and caught up on the trail news. News had spread that there was a hiker bash this weekend, but it isn't until next weekend. However, many, many hikers are headed here today for the bash. Oops! Turns out that there is free food down at the resort camping sites tonight which will keep the hiker horde happy. Infinity and I headed back to Elmer's around ten to find out that we probably wouldn't get a room as only a couple of hikers are headed out today. I left my pack there on the porch and headed out to find another room. I tried several of the cheaper priced places and they were already full. I wandered up a hill and saw a most delightful looking bed and breakfast called The Magnolia Inn. They had one room left and I took it. I went back to Elmer's and picked up my stuff. I'm done with hostels. They don't take reservations and they are first come, first serve. They are really cheap, but I got to town at 8:30 and didn't have a room until almost noon. I was hoping to have my shower, laundry and other town chores done by one and have time to chill. From now on if they don't take reservations and there are other places available that do, I will stay at the place that takes reservations. At the hostel you also take the risk of having loud, drunk hikers keeping everyone awake all night. I tried, now I'm going back to what I'm comfortable and familiar. I need to relax when I come to town and I like peace and quiet. I took a fabulous shower, put on my rain jacket and pants, stuffed all my other clothes into a stuff sack and went to do laundry. I saw Infinity who is splitting a room with Iron Man and we went to do our laundry. It was a regular laundromat, but it had a sign saying everyone must stay dressed and a towel wrapped around you is not considered dressed. Hikers need to wash everything they are carrying and it isn't unusual to see them walking around in a towel while doing their wash. Laundry was uneventful and we went back to Infinity's room where I put on normal clothes. Next we headed to the outfitters. I have been using Aqua Mira drops to purify my water, but wanted to get a filter instead. I don't think I have been drinking enough water. When I top off the bladder and add more drops, the taste of the drops gets stronger which I don't like. I could dump out the existing water, but I feel like I'm wasting my drops if I do that. Then I have to wait 30 minutes to drink. Sometimes I forget to wait, because I get quite thirsty when I'm climbing up these mountains. Also, when I pass a water source and my bladder is half full, I won't top off. A few times I have ended up without water. Therefore, I switched to a filter where there is no aftertaste, I can easily top off and drink immediately. I also replaced my sleeping hat I had lost and bought a couple more pairs of socks. I do not like putting on wet, muddy, cold socks in the morning. Just doesn't help my mood in the morning. We then went to get Iron Man and we went to have a late lunch which was a huge, very tasty salad. I then collected all my stuff from their room and headed to my room. I enjoyed some time in one of the hammocks they have here and enjoyed the sunshine. When most hikers come to town they want large quantities of food. I'm craving quality food. There is a restaurant that serves dinner here at the end, so I decided to have dinner here instead of the free food for hikers. I'm sure the free food was great, but I didn't want another hamburger and I didn't want the loud crowd that would be there. I wanted quiet and decided to treat myself. The food here was excellent! I had a stuffed pork tenderloin that melted in my mouth. Yummy!After a late dinner, I soaked my poor abused feet in the tub. They just don't want to come clean after all that mud that they been subject to for so long. There is a resort in town that has mineral baths and other spa treatments. Infinity talked about going and getting a foot treatment and I advised her not to. The treatment might take off any hard earned calluses that she has built up and that would mean more blisters. Here poor feet have endured many blisters in the past month. I have seen many familiar faces today and it became obvious that I've learned to answer to anything starting with Sun. Besides SunSeeker I get called SunChaser, SunCatcher and Sunshine. Ha. Sunshine just doesn't fit me. I got quite a few "I thought of you when the sun came out today!". Nice. I wanted to point out one difference between the trail and town that you probably are not aware. On the trail when you use the privy, you throw in a handful of leaves. In town, you flush the toilet. So, when in town remember to flush and don't throw in any leaves. Ha!On that note, goodnight!