Day 43: May 3, 2021 (3.2 miles)

Pond Flats Campsite - Boots Off Hostel

Today felt like a weird day… I woke up around 6am and thankfully there was no rain (and no bear activity overnight) so I decided to get an early start on the day. I hiked the quiet few miles downhill to Boots Off Hostel and was all checked in by 8:30am.

The sign for Boots Off Hostel in Hampton, TN

The highlight of my day was the cool outdoor shower with the hunky man painted inside. I rocked a Hawaiian shirt for loaner clothes and hung out on the porch all day. The weird thing was that I didn’t really know anyone here… I recognized some faces but that was really it. I hung out with Cat Call and Bullet for the majority of the day, but also talked to Saint, Ripper, Munchi, Hook, Low Rider, Sparky, and Phantom a bunch. Chimes and Zazu are here because I swear they just bounce hostel to hostel and don’t actually hike.

I was so excited by the painting of the sexy man in the shower, all I was able to get was this shakey picture

At 6pm there was a shuttle to “town”, but all Hampton has to offer is a Redimart grocery store, a Subway, and a gas station McDonald's. I hadn’t eaten much all day so I got a foot long, a burger and fries, McNuggets, and McFlurry. We sat around the first for a while but it wasn’t as fun without my friends. I think this is going to be a weird week into Damascus…