3/31 Just magic

13.1 miles hiked today, 270.7 miles N

Hot Springs NCI was nearly the last person out of the camp site today. When I woke up at 7:30 AM there was one tent left and the Shelter was empty. I suspect that a lot of people were excited to be going to Hot Springs. I packed up efficently and was on the trail by 8:15. The sun didn't dry out the dew on my tarp so I had to pack it up wet. Why don't they build shelters in places with good east views!?
The trail was nicely graded and fast though. It was mostly on the right side of mountians. As a result my higher foot, my left, was sore.
Though I was hiking fast I still noticed that the forest was waking up from winter. Spring is evreywhere.
Trees are flowering causing the branches to hang heavier with brilliant clumps of purple and white. The ground cover is even more exciting with the pleasure of coming over ridges to be treated to a field of white tiny flowers flowing down the other side. If plant is not covered in flowers it is budding or sprouting out of the ground. Some of the sprouts are very nice to look like. One looks like a dense mass of leaves twisted into almost and oyster mushroom shape. It grows the leaves straighten and slope upwards.
As I came into a gap I ran into Jack Paxton who was just finishing off his day hike. We talked while we walked and when I reached the gap I met his wife, Marie, and their cute dog Moonshine Rags. I took a break from my hiking annd settled into the grass by the road in the gap enjoying the sun, dog, and good connversation. They are from South Carolina and were out for a day trip to enjoy themselves around Hot Springs. They offered me a Coke which I accepted and enjoyed very much. Jack whittled a ironwood walking stick that was beautiful. It had a almost straight shaft minus and handsome spiraled knot about 2/3 up it's length. Jack had placed a brass handle/knob on top which completed the picture perfectly. After about 45 minuetes of relaxing and talking I decided I needed to set off again. They were heading into Hot Springs too and asked me to join them at the pub for a beer.
The hike after that was very fast. I am not sure if it was the trail, thought of a shower, or a waiting beer that drove me more. Along the way I ran into trees I had never seen before. They had smooth green trunks maybe 3 inches across. They really stood out in the sea of brown and grey bark. I asked around town and no one seemed to know about them.
I made great time covering the 7 miles in less than two hours.
The town was set up for thru hikers. There are "AT" marked cross walks and the sidewalk had a metal "AT" medalion at regular intervals leading me through the city. My first stop was the outfitters who had kindly picked up my mail. He had my packages, replacement treking poles from REI to replace my faulty ones and a resupply box from the family. Dan Galager, one of the workers and perhaps the owner of the outfitter heard about my pole replacement and while I was still inspecting the new ones he had repacked the old ones and had them ready for shipping. All I had to do was use the computer he kindly provideds to type up my note to REI's returns department and print my shipping lable. After taking care of that I headed up the street with my mail looking for The Elmer, the location I was due to spend the night. On the was I ran into Jack and Marie and we agreed to meet in the pub down the street in a little while. It took me a while to track down Elmers as it was up on a hill a!
bove eye level. I had to get the tour and finally threw my gear down and hit the shower.
Elmer's is a 160 year old house filled with antiques and examples of the fine craft-work. There was a music room with two guitars, a banjo, clarinet, and a piano along with numerous unqiue, antique, comfy seats. There was a sizeable library of books upstairs with an emphasis on thought provoking. The whole place was packed with porches and comfy spots. There was even a parlor with a chess table, wood stove, and neoclassical/victorian accents. My room was up a ladder that led through a trap door in the floor. It was spacious, had a collection of it's own books, a desk, and window with a view.
After taking all that in I headed out and almost immedatly ran into the Paxtons. We headed over to the pub and sat down at the bar. We continued our previous conversation and found out they had been together since they were in high school I suspect about 40-50 years ago. I ordered myself lunch and they ordered a pitcher of Michalob Ultra. My previous experiance with this low carb beer had been awful with me pouring it out. Some how my taste buds had changed though I and loved every glass of it, 3-4 in total. I can't say for sure as they keep toping mine off from the pitchers they ordered. I wish I had their email because they were truely nice people to converse with.
I got a house salad that filled my desperate need for vegies. I ate it with gusto and was disapointed only by the inclusion of bacon. Mental note, down south ask if there is bacon in anything! After that a vegi burger with fries. As I talked with jack Marie went to take care of their bill and to my surprise they paid mine too.
They headed out on their drive home in SC and finished my perplexingly tasty beer and headed tot he laundry. I doned the traditonal thru -hiker laundry day clothes, a rain suit, while the rest of my clothes were in the washer and called home.
That being done I ran into MyGyver who was looking for a place to stay. I gave him the bad news, Elmers was full, and walked with him to the Ducket where he is spending the night. The Ducket comes highly recommened but their bunck house does not. The bunks are above a barn in such a way that all 4 beds have a slanted roof above them. The only place one can stand straight is in the isle in the center. I don't envy MGyver and Snackbreak who were forced to pay for the privlage of staying in a place smaller than a shelter. I looked around town but did not find Renassance Man or Many Names though I knew they were somewhere. McGyver and went to dinner at the pub where I got a pizza. We were expecting to find Snack Break who came down to the pub to watch March Madness but she was no where to find. Finally hiker nidnight (10 PM) rolled around and we headed to our respective beds. You know the ones with sheets, pillows, and a matress. :)