Hot Springs TN

• Day:  23
• Start:  262.4
• End:  273.5
• Miles:  11.1
• Hours:  4
• High temp:  76
• Low temp:  51
• People met:  3

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As I break camp

 

A little more fire, what looks like water is low lying fog.

Just the little uphill then mostly a downhill run the Hot Springs.   

 

So anything under 2000 just seems just darn doable

This mornings green tunnel 

 

 Hot Springs. The surrounding area is filled beautiful farms.

So I make Hot Springs by 1030 and am excited about breakfast.  I try the local diner and enjoy my usual fare, an omelet with bacon, cheese and crispy hash browns. I eat the potatos on the trail for the extra fuel. 

 

The trail goes right down main street.  Note the very nice logo inset into the sidewalk.

 

Elmer's Sunnybrook Inn, is actually a hiker orientated hostel. 

After breakfast I walk across the street to Elmer's Sunnybrook Inn and get a shared room for the night. This is a wonderful Italian Victoian build in 1875.  Elmer cooks all the food, providing a limited seating for breakfast and dinner.  I sign up for breakfast but dinner is full.  I ask if they have a cancellation that they remember me for dinner.  I find the atmosphere here accomidating and comfortable. After my tour I head out for laundry.  The entire town is merly a few blocks long, so the laundromat is not very far away. Back at Elmer's I shower and sort out my gear. The only item I need to dry is my ground cloth and that is hardly wet. I found out to my delight that Mandrake, Rock Hopper, BooBoo, Maple, Namessday, Two Hearts and Todooles are here as well. These are all wonderful people that seem to have positive outlooks. I enjoy seeming them on the trail.  The energy from these hikers, Elmer and his Inn create a magical atmosphere.

 

Elmer's Kitchen is filled with the wonderful aroma of cooking good food.

Sitting Room

Music Room

 

The front door

A side entry 

 

 

Garden poppys

 

That's about it for town

The good news.is there is an opening for dinner and I'm in for the meal. Elmer learned to cook in Singapore  so he's has adopted a vegetarian diet and that is the food he prepares.  

 

Elmer to the left and a hungry Rock Hopper in the dining toom.

I am amazed at the effort put forth for our evening meal. Elmer's food is inviting in appearance, aroma and taste. 

 

Our first course.  Yes courses, I'm just as amazed. A delicious soup that he has prepared all day. 

 

The meal was wonderful as was the company, everyone seems happy. Elmer has us introduce ourselves which turns out to be a fun activity.  All in all a wonderful evening in this magical place with positive people. 

Sunny Day, but when?

• Day:  22
• Start:  240.3
• End:  262.4
• Miles:  22.1
• Hours:  9
• High temp:  63
• Low temp:  43
• People met:  6

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On the bunkhouse porch I quietly sort and stow my gear in my pack as some hikers are sleeping in. A very fine rain greets me this morning and yet it was supposed to be sunny.  I grab a couple cups of coffee and I'm on my way into the clouds. Thid morning hike starts with about 5 mi. of uphill. The grade is nice so I can keep walking without stopping. I pass 3 thru hikers making their way up the grade.  

A VOR Sration 

Finally at the top.  A nice bald appears with a  noise of machinery to my left. There is a VOR Sration, these units are for airplane navigation.  

I'm wet and scruffy

I decided to not wear my rain jacket because the rain is less than the sweat. I did put a rain cover over my pack to keep my gear dry.  The first section is dripping big drops because of the accumulation of mist from the clouds.  Well at least it's cool weather to hike in. Seems like I could hike in weather like this at home though. 

 

 The bald by the VOR Station 

I come to Max Patch, this is a great bald with some pretty views.  The cloud cover has lifted but not cleared.

 

Max Patch

Then as I walk the length of the huge expanse of grass the sun graces me with its glory. 

 

 

This is a popular spot easily accessed by cars

 

The best view of the day 

Now the sun is burning off the clouds and a brilliant blue sky appears. The next section is a muddy one requiring close attention to the trail. I follow a stream for quite a while with lots of roddies, when will these plants bloom?  

 

Blue sky and the trail in the didtance 

 

A nice place to rest for a snack. Found a tick as I was leaving, darn they are out already

I'm getting close to 20 miles so I consider staying at the next shelter. After a climb the trail opens to another open bald where many hikers are setting up camp. I briefly consider this location, but too many people and the open grass will pull moisture soaking the tents.  I move on.  

 

The bald I decided not to stay at

A couple more miles some uphill to a nice leaf covered spot for the night. No one else here, nice. Tomorrow I have about .3 mi. to the summit the a good downhill to Hot Springs, TN. my next resupply.