Day 26: A hot day towards Hot Springs

Today started with a little surprise. When I was relieving myself in the woods, I realized I had a big hole in my shorts! Right on the seam of the crotch area.

I’m not walking around in that, so let’s fix it! I have heard that dental floss works very well as floss. But I have never planted anything in my life. That’s the downside of having a loving grandmother and a mother who always fixes the holes in my clothes.

Well, there is a first time for everything! I just threaded the thread through the hole, stuck it in, did a few other things that looked good to me, and fixed it! It’s not winning any awards on the red carpet, that’s for sure, but it works!

Melting under the sun

You’re not here to read about my fantastic sewing skills, so let’s talk about hiking.

The terrain was not the problem today. We had a new enemy: the sun. In Asheville we saw a small local news report talking about an upcoming heat wave. Well, we’ve found it! The temperature rose to a sweaty 95 degrees (35 degrees Celsius) at one point.

All this heat, dirt, and constant sweat caused some chafing. Luckily I have an ointment to fix it. I should have left the hole in my shorts for more ventilation.

We are resting and drinking well, but there is a problem. Water is very scarce on this side of the mountain. Which is a big contrast from yesterday, when there was water everywhere. We made it, but water was on our mind all day.

Crocs anyone?

When we sat down to lunch, my dad noticed he had lost one of his Crocs! It’s a real shame, because we have no idea when or where he could have lost it. That makes it a little difficult to search for it again.

An hour later, Andrew, a hiker we ran into today, walked toward us with a purple Croc in his hand. He’s got it! Or at least for 10 seconds, that’s what we thought…apparently my dad lost his other Croc in the meantime, that’s the one Andrew found. That carabiner doesn’t really do its job. So, with a Croc back, we continued walking.

History in hot springs

Despite all the heat, we have been having a great time! We arrived in the city three hours earlier than expected! First stop: our hostel.

We will be staying at Elmer’s Sunnybank Inn & Hostel, which is a very interesting place! It is the oldest building in Hot Springs and is run by Elmer, an 89-year-old history buff. The entire building has always looked the same.

We were given room number 4, which is the same room Earl Schaffer stayed in when he hiked the AT in 1948. Making him the first hiker in history! The room is still exactly as it was then. Very cool!

After a little historical experience, we had some ice cream and went to the local restaurant. We invited Andrew to join us. While we enjoyed our burgers, we made our plan for the next 5 days in the city of Erwin.

Crocodile, is that you?

Andrew returned to the hostel, my dad and I stayed for a while. And that’s when your Croc came in? We saw a guy walking into the restaurant wearing a yellow Croc and a purple one. This can’t be a coincidence. What is that man doing with my dad’s camping shoe?

We asked him, and apparently he found it at Max Patch, thought having two colors was cool, and put his other yellow Croc in the hiker’s box at the hostel he was staying at. We bought him a drink, my dad went to the hiker’s box, grabbed his yellow Croc, and they decided they would both keep one of the other’s Crocs. Just as a reminder of a good story.

After this meeting, out of nowhere, Fernando appeared! He joined us for a drink and we had a great time.

Fun day today.

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