AT Adventures: Day 23, 7-7-07

Our first Zero Day! I wasn’t sure what I had wanted to do with this day, but after looking at what we could do, I had to declare our stay. There was the potential to white water raft, actual factual hot springs to go bask in, and we still needed to buy food, etc. There were a lot of errands to run. So we stuck around. Breakfast was wonderful. We signed up for breakfast the night before, and we didn’t quite have enough people, but Elmer decided to cook for us anyway (which rocked). It was super tasty. I forget what the hot carb was, either pancakes or waffles, but there was tasty granola, some yogurt, cantaloupe, and assorted other tastiness. Then, on with the day! The white water rafting fell through (there is a drought in progress, and the river is super low, so it’s mostly closed off because you can’t actually get anywhere on the thing), but there was still plenty to do. I raided the hiker box pretty hard while C went to the PO to sent off what we needed to mail. We huddled over our food situation, decided what we needed to pick up, and swung by the outfitters and the grocery store to flesh out our supplies. Then it was time for the Hot Springs! Krebopple couldn’t at that moment, so So-Close, the Prof, and I wandered down. We paused at the Outfitters for more Ben and Jerry’s. Mint and something else I can’t remember…maybe Peanut Butter Cup? The actual factual Hot Springs were…odd. It was water from a Hot Spring, and you could see the different things dissolved in the water, but they pumped that water into a hot tub type of thing. It was wonderful. Super relaxing, and all my muscles went ‘ahhhhhhh’. I don’t know if it was the Hot Springs, or the Zero day, but Caleb’s leg felt fine the next day, and indeed, from this point out. Super awesome!

Then dinner. It was another feast. Some people had shown up during the day, two people to help Elmer out with his farm/hostel, a few old friends of Elmers, and some others. It started out with a gazpacho soup (cold tomato soup…super tasty) and salad. Then cous-cous and more veggies! Finished off with incredible Key Lime Cheesecake. It was awesome. I was full. I was finally full! Until this point, I had reached the point where my stomach couldn’t hold anything else, but I could feel my body wanting more. Even after the big dinner yesterday, I had woken up hungry for breakfast. It’s crazy. As So-Close and I sat on the porch, we started talking about the Trail, and I knew it was time to get back on. My legs felt great, my stomach was happy with the food but wanted the woods, and I wanted the woods. They practically called to me. It was time.