Days 30 - 32: Rest

Current Location: Mile 273.7, Hot Springs, NC

Day 30, March 16th: 

Feeling good, so I did 14.8 to Deer Park Mtn Shelter today.  Really old and crappy shelter, so I setup camp just off the AT. Been hiking with Marathon  and Stripe recently. Soooooooo tired of instant mashed potatoes. Ugh.  It's just so hard to eat after a long day.  I need to switch to something else.  

Day 31: March 17th: 

Stopped at the shelter last night to avoid spending a short night in Hot Springs. Walked the 3.2 miles into town and straight into the Smokey Mtn Diner.  Grabbed a skillet breakfast and man was it good.  Hash browns, cheese, eggs, sausage, and veggies piled high.  Damn good.  Also juice.  How I have missed juice recently.  If they made powdered OJ that doesn't taste like Tang, I'd be all over that.  Ugh.  Juice.  

Staying at The Sunnybank Inn, which is a grand old 170+ year old home/inn.  Super cool and the owner cooks awesome food for cheap.  I'm also staying in the SAME ROOM AS EARL SHAFFER, who was the first person to thruhike the AT back in 1948.  I have to finish the trail now.   

Stopped in at the hot springs with Polar Bear and 2Apples .  Definitely worth the small cost of admission. My skin feels so soft....and clean.  I feel like a human again, hah.  

Day 32, March 18h: 

Zero day in Hot Springs. Food, rest, laundry, and chores.  Easy things.  Back out tomorrow to the trail.  I like this little town.