The Smelly Ride

There we were all packed in our truck with the 4 hikers sharing the back seat. They told us "trail tales" about their shelter stays, prepared meals and individuals they have met on the trail. My favorite was of "Dr. Evil" I don't know if that was his trail name or just what the kids were calling him. He is a lawyer who is "Slack Packing" the trail. We saw him in Hot Springs carrying a garbage bag. Slack Packing is carrying just bare necessities and moving from hostel to hostel and having supplies mailed in. It is more expensive to slack pack but remember he is a lawyer so money must not be an issue.

Once at the cabin the hikers were able to shower and I along with my 8 year old niece Kari went to do laundry in town while Rex and Mom went to the grocery store. Rex was determined these guys and girls would not go hungry. At first I thought they bought too much but you would be surprised how much food they consumed. The first night was hamburgers, hotdogs, beans, chips. That was the first dinner. The hikers were able to get one more in before bed.

So Friday morning was Breakfast by Rex. He loved cooking for us and I loved letting him. Between him and mom I hardly had to do a thing. It was a great vacation. After breakfast we headed back to Hot Springs with Super Mike, he was meeting his girlfriend who was joining him for some hiking time before she leaves for school in Hong Kong or Japan (Rex and I are disareeing on which it is). We enjoyed listening to Super Mike's phone conversations in Russian. We were also meeting Bowtie, Danger Mouse and Stickerbush and bringing them back to the cabin.

Hot Springs is such a quaint town, I highly recommend a visit if you have never been there. the French Broad runs right through town and on main street you will find an outfitters, laundromat, post office, hardware, dinner, library, and Sweet Imaginations. This place has amazing milkshakes according to the hikers. both Rex and I were too full from breakfast to induldge. Bowtie had entered town and stopped at the very first diner for a hamburger - I just realized that is what he had for lunch and dinner that day, oh well, I don't think he minded. Danger Mouse and Sticker Bush were at Sweet Imaginations. SB had just received a package from his mom with tons of food and other supplies so they were happily going through mail and sipping shakes. I think SB consumed two.

I forgot to give you the details for the new hikers - Bowtie, aka Brian, is healing from shin splints so he has compression socks and shorts on. His beard is really getting long and full. He is the hiker that Will has been with the longest. Sticker Bush, SB, is Jake from Park City, Utah. His family owns a couple of restaurants in Park City and he has a degree in Film. Go ahead ask him any movie and he has probably seen it plus he was a regular at Sundance. Danger Mouse, Nora, is so super cute and has a killer giggle! She is originally from New Jersey but is in Utah now for school. She talked Jake into the hiking. Now we have officially met the "trail family" and I think it is safe to say I totally approve.

We are heading home today so I must get off this blog and get busy or Rex is going to kill me. More to come later!