Six-Moon Journey:
March 26: Top of Georgia Hostel, 0 miles.
Day off today, and why not? Beautiful place to do it. Up for 8am breakfast, a feast of scrambled eggs, sausage links, toast, OJ and coffee. Not bad for $8.
Spent most of the day in the main building at one of the big picnic tables writing and blogging. A lot of work, tried to catch up, but a bit difficult getting used to working without a real keyboard and mouse. Working with sketchy Internet and this iPad Mini and its touchscreen keyboard. I’m making it work but it’ll take some time to be more proficient for sure.
Also spent most of the day in hospital scrubs, the casual lounge wear of choice here at Top of Georgia, which gives you scrubs upon arrival, plus a towel. For $5 they do your laundry for you and deliver it to your bunk when done. Meantime you’re supposed to wear the scrubs while you get your entire kit washed and dried. Thing is, most of us around here just stay in the damn comfy things 24/7. Some hikers even wear them into town. It’s a hoot. I swear, sometimes I look around here and it feels like I’m a patient in a psychiatric ward. Perhaps that’s more close to the truth then I care really think about.
Dried out the tent in the yard. Partly sunny most of day but cool. Free shuttles run to Hiawassee at 1, 2 and 3 each afternoon. Hikers in and out all day. Busy place, but this is the season. Helped Tortoise Sal with her blisters, doctored them up as best as possible. One on the outside of each the size of a quarter. Ouch. Bad, buts she’s grateful for the help.
Note: In a week and some 80 miles of hiking so far I’ve had not even the hint of a blister. And I don’t plan on any. Chalk that up – with some luck – to my tremendous Lowa Renegade boots. Like wearing a comfy slipper but with awesome support.
Cherry tree and forsythia out front of hostel are in bloom. Springish right here, wish it were at home in Maine. Brutal winter. But good skiing!
Didn’t really get a whole lot of true downtime today I guess but it was a good day nonetheless. Met lots of nice people, chatted up a few. Good crowd out here on the trail. Fun people.
Hopped aboard the 6pm dinner shuttle to town. Made a Hardee’s to-go stop. Big chicken sandwich and onion rings, huge sweet tea. None of which survived the ride back up to the mountains and the hostel.
9pm now, still hikers milling about, conversation, games, guitar. Feeling quite relaxed and happy. Liking this thru-hiker thing all over. But then, damn if I didn’t know I would.
North into North Carolina tomorrow. Weather looks good.
