Hot Springs, NC

Staying at a Hostel tonight. $17 bunk bed with shower, kitchen, and WiFi (not working). I can get a signal from the parking lot on the opposite end of the property though. So I'm typing in my backseat, a comforter spread across the front headrests to form a tent to keep my fingers warm.
The hostel is nice. The people in it are interesting and good, generous.

 



There's two people hiking through (meaning traveling on foot the entire trip) from one end of the Appalacian Trail (A.T.) in Maine to the other in Georgia.

One is a trucker who works half the year, and goes on trips the other half. He likes to listen to audiobooks while he drives to educate himself. On his day hikse, he gets bored because it is too easy, so he hikes at night to increase the difficulty and feel more focused.

The other is a man who struggled with depression himself. He tried to commit suicide and then the next day on July 3rd, set off on this journey. He intends to hike the way back as well. He likes hot chocolate. So much so, that I gave him all the packets I have in my car. People give him money and free food along the way. Last night he slept on the ground in 32 F cold. He removed the mattress from his bunk to sleep on the flat board underneath.

I cooked dinner in the kitchen. I just wanted to cook. Cooking feels like something you do at home. I feel at home with these people for a short while. I made rice with sweet potato and green bean soup. I shared it with the hot chocolate guy.

There was nobody to check me in when I arrived. An information center lady showed me the way to the hostel when I asked her for a cheap place to shower. $5 up the hill, she said. I was happy with surprise. The door to the hostel was unlocked. Many notes were left on the door, and I gathered that I was welcome to walk in and pick out a room. One of the other guests showed me around. I came in around 3pm and it's 9:30 . I've taken a shower, done laundry, and cooked dinner and I still haven't seen the owner.

The only thing I'm missing is WiFi. Time to go back inside and fold my clothes.

There was a black cat that greeted me when I first got here and got out of my car. I fed her tuna. She is a nice cat. When I came back to my car to get a change of clothes, she came to me when I called her. As I removed luggage from my car, she walked around the side of the car and sat next to my suitcase while I foraged for clothes. She is a nice cat. I wish I could take her with me. I picked her up and she did not scratch. She meowed when she wanted to be put down, but did not fuss. She is a nice cat. : - )

I don't have time to organize pictures right now, so. Blah! Here's all of them: