I stumbled into hot springs sick as a dog thinking its trail fatigue. Now that I look back I was a hurting puppy for two days and all I could think about was getting to hot springs. Let's see I was nauseous, light headed, and my mouth was dry as sand. I remember trying to eat an almond and having it turn to sand in my mouth and barely chocking it down with water. Although I was moving ok on the trail I had to be careful about bending over and standing up too quickly. My voice became the hoarse sort of rasp and I have a feeling the drenching sweat I was in for two days was not just from hiking. And my damn bowels they didn't give a shit for days. They are cooperating again somewhat but a Christmas card is definitely out! The first people I met were Homemade and Short Leash. They had come to hike but SL had thrown his back out so they were just hanging out enjoying the place before they head back to home in China Town Manhattan. This Hostel at Laughing Heart Lodge is the best place I have stayed so far. Clean with linens, option of bunk house or single double or triple rooms kitchen and cooking available and best of all a refrigerator full of left overs from the wedding held yesterday at the lodge there just across the law where you can spend a couple hundred dollars for a room if you'd like. The hostel goes for about 15$ a bed. The place is also walking distance to town and all the amenities of a couple taverns a laundromat and a fairly well stocked outfitter a bank and a post office and a diner all on Main Street and all within about a 10 minute walk of the hostel oh and at the other end of town there was the Spa where the actual hot springs are. Built on the grounds of what was once a grand hotel (it burned down) and also the sight of a German internment camp from WW1. Apparently whe we declared war there were some German ships in our harbors and the crews were "interned" some families came to join them and some never left and settled in the area. The other unique thing about hereabouts was that there were soldiers from nearby NC and TN who fought for the union and confederate armies. After I decided you could have knocked me over with a feather when I got here and I allowed myself two days to recover I partook of the spa and enjoyed a wonderful soak in the rejuvenating mineral baths and then yes I had a massage. I cannot begin to describe the incredible joy my body experienced. My apologies to my CFO as this was not in any of the previously submitted budgets. The conversation was pleasant about aligning miz hoes and loosening joint about waters running through crystal caves in Brazil and flux bands of energy surrounding planet earth… The masseuse was snarlingly spiritual. I could hardly get off the table at the end.
At the hostel my bunk room mate was an ex ranger with a mission to get to Maine on the AT. He had his dog Shelby and everything he owned on his back. He said if winter got in the way he would just stop where he was, work in a restaurant until spring and pick up the cause again. He is so committed he even cut down a hand me down fancy down sleeping bag and pad for Shelby. Shelby of course had her own doggy back pack and on the morning they saddled up to head out the dog acted down right giddy when Mike strapped that pack on her.
Short leash and Homemade were wonderful. The day before they left they realized they still had hiking supplies, food, that Homemade had prepared, hence "Homemade" ,and they were not going to use. They wanted to give it to me. Yes that would be great ! There were two meals of Dahl, two meals of spaghetti and two meals of breakfast granola. Now remember that cooking on the trail entails heating up water, pouring it over your food in a bag and waiting 15 minutes. I can't begin to describe the culinary taste sensation of the Dahl or even the spaghetti , probably both un recognizable for the treasures they were until they reach your palate. And granola really does not do justice to the two breakfasts I enjoyed. I may never eat oatmeal again and my eyes have been opened to the possibility of no cook breakfasts in the future. One of the secrets is finding dehydrated WHOLE milk, and of course all the other grains and goodies. Homemade tried to explain the recipe but I can recall only bits and pieces. It would be a tremendous boon if she would repeat those recipes here… Please Homemade?
Hot Springs, NC, United States
At the hostel my bunk room mate was an ex ranger with a mission to get to Maine on the AT. He had his dog Shelby and everything he owned on his back. He said if winter got in the way he would just stop where he was, work in a restaurant until spring and pick up the cause again. He is so committed he even cut down a hand me down fancy down sleeping bag and pad for Shelby. Shelby of course had her own doggy back pack and on the morning they saddled up to head out the dog acted down right giddy when Mike strapped that pack on her.
Short leash and Homemade were wonderful. The day before they left they realized they still had hiking supplies, food, that Homemade had prepared, hence "Homemade" ,and they were not going to use. They wanted to give it to me. Yes that would be great ! There were two meals of Dahl, two meals of spaghetti and two meals of breakfast granola. Now remember that cooking on the trail entails heating up water, pouring it over your food in a bag and waiting 15 minutes. I can't begin to describe the culinary taste sensation of the Dahl or even the spaghetti , probably both un recognizable for the treasures they were until they reach your palate. And granola really does not do justice to the two breakfasts I enjoyed. I may never eat oatmeal again and my eyes have been opened to the possibility of no cook breakfasts in the future. One of the secrets is finding dehydrated WHOLE milk, and of course all the other grains and goodies. Homemade tried to explain the recipe but I can recall only bits and pieces. It would be a tremendous boon if she would repeat those recipes here… Please Homemade?
Hot Springs, NC, United States
Sent from my iPhone
No comments:
Post a Comment