April 15, 1997 (Day 27 – milepoint 269.8 – Hot Springs, NC)

Strange encounter with a squirrel today. It stood on a branch in a tree next to the trail and made very loud chirping noises with an occasional violent throat contraction … I’d never heard a squirrel do that, but it is spring time so I figured there must be a female nearby and he was looking to wet the old willie.

I made it into Hot Springs, NC around 6:00 PM and was lucky to get the last room at Elmers Sunnybank Inn, a great big beautiful historic home built in 1840. $12 a night for hikers and I got my own room. I put my name on the board for dinner (vegetarian exclusive), got settled into my room, and then walked up the street to the convenience store for a cold beverage.

A truck parked outside had a bumper sticker on it that said, “Coonhunters for Christ.” While I was inside, a guy pulled up on a riding lawn mower, came in, bought some beer and some chewing tobacco, and rode away.

Back at the Inn, I joined 8 other thru-hikers on an upstairs porch for beer and social. Met Lone Wolf, who has been hiking the trail for about 12 years. He’s a walking guidebook and it seems the trail has been very good to him. He runs 50-mile ultra-marathons for fun.

Dinner was huge! Soup, salad, lasagna, and pecan pie. Best meal on the trail so far. So good, so much, I don’t have the energy to go get ice cream. I’ll get it first thing in the morning.

Aquaholic

Spring Creek Valley near Hot Springs, NC