This hotel’s pigeon is weird. And cute.
I love a good breakfast. And by “good” I mean one I cook myself or which is otherwise delicious, packed with nutrition, and is filling.
I ran to the German bakery in town (it’s a thing in Etna) and got a rustic loaf of bread for breakfast. Then back at the hotel I made shakshuka and served it with toasted slices of the bread.
Damn was it good.
It was packed with veggies and tofu. Just all the things we don’t get on trail.
It’s nice to be rested, clean, and in clean clothes. But it’s time to set our resupply strategy, execute it, then find new accommodations for the night.
We went back to Dottie’s, the burger spot, and I brought lactaid so I could have a, very much worth it, milkshake. While sitting at Dottie’s, we figured we’d go to the free camp sites in the park. Then we’d get the hikertrash experience and we could cook dinner on one of the grills there.
After Dottie’s we went next door to the D-Gen, the Dollar General, to get our food for the next stretch. What they didn’t have we’d get at the grocery store. I got most of what I needed for the hike and some self lighting charcoal for dinner.
While walking back to get our stuff being held at the hotel, a woman pulled up next to us and offered to let us crash at her sister’s unlisted “hiker haven”. It was a garage with beds, a TV, a rudimentary hiker box, and access to a bathroom, shower, and laundry.
Hell yes.
And when we got there Abraham was there! We all caught up, then Nonny and I headed to the grocery store for veggies (for us) and chicken (for me) to grill. While walking to the park, we met another hiker and got him headed in the right direction.
At the park I got to cooking. It wasn’t as social as I’d hoped because we got there a bit late, but it was still nice to have home cooked high quality protein and veggies. I love getting good nutrition.
I also started to contact some trail angels to get us to trail tomorrow, because the ride we had arranged fell through. Everyone was busy though. Rats.
Well. We had dinner and walked back. We stayed up a bit watching dirtbag comedy (I Think You Should Leave) with Abraham before we went to bed.