April. 22, 2021

Flew out of Boston and through Charlotte to Asheville this morning on American Airlines.  For a change everything went on schedule.  I was picked up at airport by Harry’s car service.  What a character.  I got a ride from Harry himself.  According to him he was in army special services and fought in all the combats since the Viet Nam war.  Shot at many times and jumped from many an airborne vehicle.  Says he was a bad boy in the service but since he was a friend of  four star General Abrams he wasn’t disciplined much.  Stayed in the service a long time even though money was not good because he wanted to take care of his troops.  Now he consults to DOD for good money and they don’t want him to retire.  Has a fleet of cars for his shuttle service and employs about a dozen vets.  It went on and on.  I got most of his life story.  Single now, two kids, one grandchild and just turned 72.  I could hardly get a word in the whole hour drive.  I like stories.

I will say his car was very clean and nice, his service was excellent and I’d recommend him.

I got to Hot Springs in time to go to the post office to mail my duffel bag home and to get a gas canister for my stove from the local outfitter, Buff Mountain.  Hot Springs hasn’t changed much but I heard there is a new restaurant in town.

I am gold blazing tonight.  Staying at the Laughing Heart Lodge.  It’s affiliated with the hostel of the same name where I stayed in 2019 only much nicer.  It was built by a family here back in the day when the mineral springs in town were considered medicinal.  Their daughter was seriously ill. Later the jesuits bought it and erected a small chapel which is still on the grounds.  Now it’s owned in trust and it’s income is used to support a paralyzed person.  Anyway as you can see it’s quite nice.  Two beautiful stone fireplaces.  Very quaint.

I have a private room and bath.

Walked a short distance into town for dinner at the Smokey Mountain Diner and then back to room for final backpack check and sleep.  Tomorrow I hike into the mountains.