Project Eveningland

2/27/2023 Monday

Woke up at 5:30 and talked with Mom on the phone in the dark while walking around the empty hotel parking lot in warm humid weather. Or maybe it was colder but I’ve just gotten used to being outdoors.

Grabbed free breakfast with Will and parents. Very disappointing sulfurous eggs. Oatmeal. Will’s parents stuck around to take us to Ingles. The man at the meat counter took me extremely literally when I said I wanted shaved ham.

They drove us to the BnB (not an Airbnb, an actual one). They let us check in early but we gave them time to dust by walking down to Outdoor76, where we ran into everyone we’ve been hiking with (including Indiana who’d said that he was headed straight to the N.O.C. [Nantahala Outdoor Center, pronounced “the knock,” or “the knawk” in the manner of my favorite yinzer YouTuber]). Yes, those are nested parentheticals. Why don’t more people use nested parentheticals?

Anyway, Indiana (who’s from Indiana and whom we are trying to convince to call himself “Hawaii” because it’s funny) said he took my advice and decided to take it easy. He said it was on account of being 59, but Mom pointed out that it’s just common sense. It is easier to be persuasive when you are speaking sense. Is that a tenet of rhetoric? It should be if it isn’t.

Anyway we had a lovely time bumming around town with all the other hikers. It’s good to be in the club. Lots of dogs around. Went to ace hardware for zip ties (for tent modification, not insurrection). I ate the rest of my pizza and some pineapple. A ton of pineapple. I wish they cut it as well as Ben and I do.

Will napped and I sat watching the first two eps of Star Trek Picard S3. It is excellent! Fucking excellent! They gave the reins to an actual fan and he fixed it. Or so it would seem.

All the rooms of the BnB are empty. I wonder if the building is being treated well. I hope so. It’s a lovely creaky old place. I am just full of memories of the last trip. Franklin was the setting for such a pivotal set of choices. I feel an affection for the town.

We’re going to the brewery for dinner. We’ll pack up after that and shuttle back to Rock Gap tomorrow, probably with Lady E. Bobby the Greek is taking us. Seems like a cool dude.

I keep meaning to upload photos but I’m too damn lazy. Here’s one of me at 100.

Also, before I forget, I was in a conversation with a hiker who referred to a calendar year triple crown as a “CYTC.” Gross. That is gross.