Sunday April 23, 2006: FREE DAY IN HOT SPRINGS, NC (0 miles)

After a couple of weeks and 270 miles, I decided to take the day off and enjoy this quaint little town... Yesterday I had a chance to freshen up and do laundry, visit the annual "Trail Festival" put on by local merchants and various trail organizations, meet other hikers I had camped with and generally check the place out. I stayed at the The Sunnybank Inn, also refered to as Elmers after the owner and head vegitarian chef. A beautiful place as hostels go...a 160 y/o victorian home catering only to hikers. My room was on the first floor and I had a double bed, quite a luxury from the bunkhouses other hostels offer. I had to share the room with another hiker each night, this being their busiest season. All shops in town are on a 1/4mi main strip, a beautiful layout but stuck in a "Gap", canyon more like it with no cell phone reception anywhere in town... On this day I woke and headed with others, who were also taking the day off, to a benefit AYCE pancake breakfast heald at the local community center... I think all the hikers in town were there along with plenty of towns people. We had a pleasant breakfast before even more hikers arrived and decided to forgoe 4ths due to the length of the line. I spent most of the remainder of the day updating this blog on a MAC computer at the Duckett House B&B, another even more beautiful place on the outskirts of town. The owners were very accomodating even as they were preparing to host a "political meeting" to help garner support for local elections. I really enjoyed my time in Hot Springs and we brought it all together at the pub for supper with many of my current hiking friends present.
Pictures:
1. Thats me and "Gringo" having supper, one Saturday, April 22 with another group of hikers and a restauraunt right across the street from our Inn. I can recall only 2 of the names and they were Ranger Dog (Retired Army) and Model T(who has a few AT books published and is on I believe his 4th thru-hike). This groups average age must be about 65 but dont let that fool you out here... These guys are in very good condition.
2. One of the owners of the Duckett House Inn who spent some valuable time with me to get the MAC computer to work like the PC's I'm use to... Thankyou again!!!!!
3. Heres supper on the 23rd with all the familiar faces of the last week assembled, showered and with clean clothes and everything...LOL...Lots of fun...
4. Finally, the center of towne is appropriatly housed with the local outfitter where hikers can replace, upgrade, or add almost anything to their tools to help them get to Katahdyn. A really great place staffed with many helpful folks.