Woke up early - excited to meet friends and be in town. Had a nice hike in, despite a nasty blister on the 4th toe on my right foot. Feels like the toenail is coming off and there is a blister underneath the toenail, that extends on top of the toe. And of course the bottom of the toe is also blistered. It's a mess.
It was warm out today! I was drinking lots and actually ran out of water. (You know how a few days ago I said the sound of air being let out of the sleeping pad was the saddest sound in the world? The water reservoir gurgling dry is the second saddest).
Pretty sure I saw a bear today. I was hiking a few minutes behind OWL & SilverStreak, and saw/heard something large and dark moving in the rhododendron & brush to my right. I thought it was Streak, taking a break. But then I followed the trail, and Streak's backpack was nowhere to be found. So - no photo or up close & personal meeting - but I'm pretty sure it was a bear.
Saw Clever Girl, DumpTruck, Apollo along with Hot Dog and Whistle. They were slackpacking into Hot Springs - Hot Dog got sick in Walnut Mountain Shelter a few nights ago so they split up her stuff and carried it down to Garentto Gap. So now they are making up the difference. Said we made the right decision to delay entering the Smokies...said it was miserable "but we're alive". Yikes. That's one way to look at it.
Got into town...picked up maildrops...stopped to do laundry...got a shower...and then Joel was here!! So good to see him. Decided to go into Asheville for dinner and beer. We went to Wicked Weed Brewing Company for great beer (delicious IPAs), and dinner fit for a princes. Homemade fries with french onion dip, a pork chop with roasted brussel sprouts and homestyle potatoes, plus bison chili. Yum!
Afterwards Joel got me a room at the hotel he was staying at, and drove me to CVS to get Epsom salts. Friend + Beer + Dinner + Soaking Bath + a bed with a pillow = a very happy zag.
The only downside - I have never felt more like a homeless person in my life when Joel was checking me into his hotel. There I stood, all my possessions in a Sea to Summit eVent bag, standing awkwardly to the side while Joel asks if they have any more rooms available. Pretty funny. :)
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