I wake gradually as full dark begins to give way to daybreak. I sleep with a buff over my eyes, and when I take it off I can see the sun is still below the horizon, but I can feel the forest starting to wake. The hoots of owls give way to slow chirps of songbirds in the trees above. I stretch languidly in my hammock, slowly increasing the blood flow to my muscles. Thankfully, the aches are pretty much gone in the mornings and I am feeling stronger by the day.
I peek out from under my tarp to see GG is up and at 'em in usual fashion. She is mostly packed up and getting ready to enjoy her coffee and palaver at the shelter. I am so happy to be back in the middle of the woods with my hammock. I wish I could lay here for hours, but we have to hike the longest day so far on the trail. Our next stop is Hot Springs, NC, where my car is parked. Today we are heading home.
I am super excited to get home after almost three full weeks of hiking, but I am also reticent to leave the trail. I am definitely getting stronger and maybe a little faster. Hard to tell with all the loitering I like to do. It's a shame to leave when we are starting to be able to hit bigger mile days. But, I have a husband to get home to and a job to start. Better get packing!
I pack carelessly, since it doesn't matter what gets dirty or if something damp is packed next to something that needs to remain dry. I will pull it all out and clean it when I get home anyway. There is a chance for some rain in the forecast, so I leave my food and rain gear on the top of the main compartment.
Today we have 3200' of gain over the next 18 miles, divided between three climbs. We also have almost six thousand feet of knee-pounding descent! Thankfully, my pack is lighter because I don't have a lot of water or food weight. Water is abundant along this section, so I am carrying very little in my pack. I also planned my food for this section fairly well, so I have just enough food for today in my food bag. Or maybe it feels lighter because I am getting fit.
We get to Lemon Gap fairly quickly, as the hike here was mostly downhill. I have no idea why it's called Lemon Gap. I can't find any info on the internet. The weather is damp and the Big Green Tunnel is living up to its name.
The rest of the day passes unremarkably. We hike over Bluff Mountain, then down, down, down, to Hot Springs. I take some time to drink a lot of water at the Deer Park Shelter area. There is a nice little stream with lots of campsites sprinkled throughout the surrounding woods. GG is a little ways ahead, so I need to turn on some speed so she doesn't have to wait for me at the car.
I can hear the town before I can see it. The sound of cars slowly increases as I descend the last half-mile to town. I can see the forest parking lot where I left my car almost three weeks ago. I always hold my breath when I return to my car after a hiking trip, even when it's only a couple nights. Car break-ins are prevalent at overnight hiker parking at any trailhead, but the lot is right behind Laughing Heart Hostel, so I am certain it will be unmolested.
At the turn off to the lot, I see GG waiting with her backpack off. She waited for me so we could complete this section together!! We walk the 100' to the car together. We are elated from completing this section without any injury or problems. We just hiked 206 miles of trail over 19 days. We are feeling badass! And hungry! The car is intact as well, so everything is great.
We check in to the Laughing Heart Hostel, where I booked us a room for the night. We shower and change into fresh clothes we left in the car. We go to Spring Creek Tavern, a restaurant on the river less than a mile from the hostel. There are lots of hikers in the restaurant. We order craft brews and I get fried pickles and loaded nachos, which is my favorite town meal. GG has never had nachos before!! We finish up and head back to the hostel for a last bit of fellowship with hikers until the sun sets. We head back home in the morning.
This part of our adventure has come to a close, but I will continue our journey as if we never left the trail. For continuity, the entry for day 27 will follow this one, whenever we return - whether it is next month or next year, so keep reading as we continue on the trail. TTFN.
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