Last night was our best night of camping so far. We had a moon so bright that I thought someone was shining a light in our tent. I also only had to get up once so maybe my overactive bladder has had more to do with cold than old age (fingers crossed, wishful thinking). When we woke up, everything was high and dry. It never even got below 40 last night so it was perfect sleeping.
By the time we rolled out of bed, only Stickers, Lady Bug, Pit Boss, and Play by Play were left hanging around the shelter (Pit Boss and Play by Play were still asleep). We all ate breakfast together and talked while getting ready. With “just under 10 miles” to go today (Play by Play is apparently better at English than math), we knew we could have a leisurely morning and still make it to the hostel in time to catch the lunch shuttle into town for some “nutritious” food.
We all took off a little after 9. Pit Boss lead the way with me following him. Bunny Tracks and Play by Play were a bit behind deep in conversation. Bunny has taken to Play by Play to fulfill her need to mother. She wishes her own son was hiking the AT for the life lessons he could learn and the maturity he could gain. Play by Play is such a mature and fun kid to be around that everyone likes him. And maybe Bunny Tracks fulfills a “grandmother” hole that Play by Play has (or maybe just an extremely mature aunt).
The walk into town went very quickly. It was short sleeve weather and we were making great time. Ultimately, I became the slowest of the group. We didn’t have many uphills but I was running out of steam on the climbs. I don’t think I’m eating enough to fuel big pushes (plus I knew we still had a bag of M&Ms left and I hate to enter a town with excess chocolate).
We made it to Uncle Johnny’s just past noon. The shuttle into the AYCE pizza buffet didn’t leave until 12:30, so we were golden. Geo was in the outfitter as we were registering. Pit Boss and Play by Play weren’t planning on staying here, so they found a different shuttle to run them around town. We joined Geo, Summit, Little Blue, Bear Foot, and the Professor on the shuttle. We found out that Little Blue is going to have to get off the trail for a week or so to rest his ankle.
After lunch, we did a little resupply shopping at Dollar General before the return shuttle showed up. When we got back to the hostel, Bear Foot and I decided to borrow bikes and make a beer run. This is where I discovered Bear Foot’s propensity to fall down. We were riding along talking when he just disappeared. I looked back and he was on the street with the bike laying on top of him. It looks like it would be best for me to carry all the beer back (when/if we make it to the gas station).
Geo got to fulfill a lifelong dream and shave someone’s head—mine. Don’t ever fall asleep in a Hiker Hostel. It’s fitting that the guy with the longest hair shaves the head of the person with the least amount of hair. It was almost 70 outside when we went out for supper and a run to Wal-Mart, but I felt a need for a fleece beanie.
Pit Boss and Play by Play barely recognized me when they got back to the hostel. They had taken longer to run their errands than they had anticipated so we were able to talk them into spending the night with us since we had a four person room to ourselves. We could have gotten by with just a nearo today and hit the trail again tomorrow, but we haven’t had a day off since Hot Springs and we’d like a full day of rest tomorrow. We’ve gotten almost all of our chores done (including purchasing Vagisil—for chafing! What did you think?)
EFG
Where is this hostel located? Is it near the river? In 1981 everyone was staying at Nolichucky Expeditions by the river. Pretty primitive accommodations with a very dissatisfying breakfast.
Right next to the river before the bridge. Uncle Johnny died just last year. He bought it about 25 years ago—it wasn’t a hostel when you wandered these parts