Date: 2013-04-22
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Campsite near boxed spring
Miles today: 0.0

Our day started with a scrumptious breakfast; thick, hot waffles with walnuts cooked into there heavy batter and fresh made strawberry topping to lather them in, juicy cantaloupe slices and a hearty granola mix with sunflower seeds and fresh milk. All of which was courtesy of Elmer, who had risen early to prepare it for us, while we cuddled close in our bed. Everything seemed well, better than perhaps. I felt so grateful for the whole weekend, and all of the surprises it had bestowed us. We headed down the familiar path we had traveled up and down through town all weekend. I had a strange sense, and somehow it felt wrong to leave, but there would be more towns for me to feel this way about. Out we climbed, pausing to overlook the town from the tops of the mountains, and feeling less for it and more for the future towns we were approaching. Sometimes it feels difficult to leave civilization, but once you're back in the middle of those fresh trees you're happy you did. It seemed almost out of nowhere that Dan wasn't feeling well. He said he felt weak, and our pace slowed. We came upon an odd structure in the forest, where we decided to rest. It was a large wall, and when you followed the path to the top there was a pond, trapped in by this manmade structure. Within the pond salamanders swam alongside bass, and we could hear a large frog croaking from across the way. Dan lay down alongside the path, covering his face with his hat, and here we sat, for hours. Perhaps it was only two, but it seemed much longer. Hikers continued to stop in awe, chattering beside us cheerfully, and then moving on with their quest. Finally Dan said he wanted to find a place to camp, and hopefully feel better in the morning. There was supposed to be a campsite somewhere near the pond, at least according to our guidebook. Packs off, we wandered up the trail a nit and back again, but found nothing. We stood near our resting ground and peered around, debating silently. "I bet that it's across the pond," I said, gesturing towards a small path leading from the edge of the stone wall. I sighed, the wall made me nervous. I was either to fall into the swampy pond water, quite possibly filled with leeches, or topple twenty or so feet to the ground, to meet a bed of sharp sticks and rocks. The ledge was about a foot wide, so it didn't require balancing skills to walk across, but somehow I felt unsteady teetering along that edge. "Alright," I said, deciding there was no point in putting it off. Leaving my pack once more, I strutted across the ledge, nervously stepping over the branches of trees that were reaching across my path. I breathed relief as my feet touched the earth on the other side, with Dan close behind. I climbed up the slender path, and sure enough there was exactly what we'd been looking for. There was an eeriness to the campsite. When we had decided to settle into the area I had climbed over a path behind it. There was a large grassy clearing, and I could see a couple wooden posts atop the hill. Following my curiosity I swiftly carried myself to the top where they stood. I found an area where I imagined a gang of homeless people to live. A funny expression, possessing no permanent residence myself. There were several tarps, and a couple large cooking pots, that looked as though they might be used regularly. A clothes basket was filled with canned goods, and a disheveled book, as well as a plastic bag filled with pasta and condensation. There was a dirty stuffed kitty, and a pair of heels that only a prostitute would wear. It had such an ominous feel to it all. I hurried back to the campsite where Dan was waiting, asking why I'd gone up there. I felt like an intruder now, encroaching on someone else's territory. I knew Dan wanted to stay, not feeling well and all. I decided it was best to ignore the emotions set in from this odd discovery, but the images hung in my mind. The rest of the night I would be distracted by images of a dirty, broken family wandering up to our tent, looking for favors. A crazed homeless prostitute, desperate enough to slaughter and roast us to feed her grimy little girl. Fortunately no such thing ever happened.