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May 31, Tuesday (1883.4 mtg)
Up
at our usual time to begin our trek to Hot Springs for resupply
and part of a day in town. We said goodbye to the kids and their
counselors and headed off. The wildlife encountered on this stretch
of trail became the highlights for this morning. We saw a skunk
pass across the trail a little ahead of us on the trail, and later
encountered a wounded groundhog that would not let us pass. It would
not get out of the way for anything! We poked and prodded it with
a long stick, but it just bit the stick in anger. Perhaps that is
how it became injured originally as a previous hiker tried to get
it to move off the trail with his staff. Finally we decided to climb
around the beast on the side of the hill above the trail. We made
good time this morning and dropped into Hot Springs at about 11
am.
As the Catholic Hostel is basically the first thing we encountered
upon entering town, we checked it out first. For six dollars you
could have a shower and a spot in the bunkroom along with kitchen
privileges. It is a nice place, but I had stayed there before, and
there was a new place in town that opened up it's doors to hikers.
An
old Victorian house converted by a former hiker was now just
down the street and offered a private room and shower for eight
dollars. An additional five dollars got you a wonderful vegetarian
dinner. We chose the inn for thirteen dollars. We picked up our
mail at the post office, went back to the hostel to leave a note
for the Chiefs who would be coming in later that evening. I retrieved
at least two packages from the local post office from my mother,
and a letter from Grandma.
A sight
to behold was provided at the local laundry facility as we shed
virtually everything that we had and took the opportunity to freshen
up our shorts, shirt and socks. While near the laundry, at the trailside
cafe, I gouged myself on some real protein contained in a genuine
"trail burger" for only $1.95 along with a side of fries.
Of course that was appetizing, but not nearly enough, so before
returning to the inn, we bought a half gallon of butter pecan ice
cream and other groceries for the next leg of our journey. But before
that, around 3:50pm, I placed a call to Illinois to talk with mom,
but she was at work. My sister Julie answered the phone. I had originally
wanted to call mom at work, but I guess I just instinctively dialed
the home number instead. I
told her to tell mom to keep the slides she had developed in
order, and to put numbers on them if she wanted. I estimated ten
days before I arrived in Damascus, Virginia and if she was going
to send anything, all I might need was some socks. I expressed my
thanks for the letters from Grandma, and told her it is nice to
hear from people back home. The call was short, only seven minutes
(cost $4.75) and soon we headed back to our room at the inn for
dessert. Jim and I each consumed one quart of the ice cream as we
lounged on the porch while rocking, and relaxing in the rocking
chairs that provided an old time atmosphere.
Supper was excellent! It all started with creamed asparagus soup,
then salad, brown rice, mixed vegetables, and peppermint tea. That
was topped off with homemade Gingerbread cake. I was stuffed! We
sat around the table after supper and yapped with Beth
and Dave (other thru-hikers), a guy from England, Tom and Mary,
and the owners Elmer
Hall and Gary (?). Later I ate a can of mixed fruit, and headed
off to bed. This was my second time in Hot Springs, and I still
could not get up the nerve to visit the condemned Hot Springs Spa
on the outskirts of town. Illegal entry during the night into the
rundown buildings was the only way to sample the hot springs. Staying
up late enough to sneak in was the problem. I guess I did not want
to stay up late enough to give it a go. This resort town of the
past was supposedly used to house German prisoners of war during
World War II. I heard they liked it so much there they did not want
to leave after they were released.
Gonzo!
Appalachian Trail Journals ©1983
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