First thing she said is how skinny / different I look, since the change is gradual and I don't have a mirror with me, I didn't know how really different I looked. Second thing she said is I need a shower, something else that you notice less when you are surrounded by hikers. :)
It was really good to see her and I think it made me really underscore the fact that the only things I miss out here are not the foods, Seinfeld, my bed, my car, my hot tub, but the people that surround me, I miss my family, my girl, my friends, my dogs and the human connections that I have made in my life.
Ironically, when asked, why people hike the AT, or rehike the AT, most say that it's about the people you meet out here and not the physical / mental challenges or nature.
I know I must have been a little withdrawn at first, it was like relearning normal things again. Riding in a car, managing others radio, getting gas (it was a really old gas station). But I think I loosened up as the weekend moved along. I bet when I get back it will be a multi-week process to decompress.
Duckett House Inn
Www.ducketthouseinn.com
This was the bed and breakfast we stayed in for the weekend. It was my first b and b experience. Nice place, older Victorian house on the river, wraparound porches, rocking chairs, etc. The house has a dog (jack), a cat, and roosters. The barn house is a hiker hostel. Every morning they woke you up for breakfast to nice new age music playing. It was good to get up early to the sound of a rooster and enjoy the full day, the family atmosphere the b and b provided was really nice.
Rafting down the French broad
We took a floater trip down the river, it was a beautiful day, beautiful views and was a really good time. Towards the end the rain and bad weather moved in and the guy picked us up a bit earlier. After 4 hours we were glad to get out.
Saturday night beers at Paddlers Pub
After rafting we went to a local pub for some beers, i wAs surprised to see so many hikers that I knew. Towards the end of the night ther were 15-20 people at the "hiker table". It was fun to have some beers with all the hikers that I had met the Previous weeks, and for Ponda to meet them all, hear the personal, hiking and bear stories of all the hikers and their walks of life.
Hot Springs
The mineral springs is a really cool place, very relaxing atmosphere, I went 4 times while in town. I would def come back again. They put real hot tubs and routed the mineral water to them. They are private and have small structures around them, some have killer private views of the river.
Hiking
The original plan was to have Ponda pick me up at the hostel 30 miles south on the AT and then drop me back off when the weekend was over, towards the end of the weekend, I decided to leave from hot springs and skip the 30 mile section. I will have to hike it someday.
Saying goodbye
It Was tough, it was sad to say good bye to Ponda, hot springs, the weekend and the iron horse burger. And get out of town, the town had a personality, the guy selling peanuts with the three legged dog " Friday", the bar, the train, etc.
Pictures: We took all the pictures with Pondas cAmera, so I will have to post them when I return.
A nice view on the way to Hot Springs, NC
Hot Springs has these signs on the sidewalk as the AT goes through it
Ducket House B&B
Night out of beers at Paddlers Pub (Cotton, Phillip, Brian, Connecticut)
Roam, Burrell, his Girlfriend
Puck on the left and Cotton
My PIctures w/ the town behind me
My picture w/ the Springs behind me
Utah
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