A Hot Springs Breakfast Frenzy

June 9, 2025

Bo and I had a quick 3 miles down to Hot Springs, NC. Thoughts of breakfast from the Smokey Mtn Diner fueled me with each step I took. I spent the 3 miles day dreaming of what I would order. Hot Springs was hit pretty hard from Helene.

At the Diner, I set Bo up outside at the picnic table while I ordered: eggs, sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, biscuits and gravy, and orange juice. Bo ate bacon, and we chowed down together before planning out our next resupply point. After breakfast, we went to the dollar general to get food to get us to Erwin. I still have yet to craft the art of resupply and keep buying too much food to where I have extra when I get to the next town.

Bo and I then went to the outdoor store for body glide, another power bank, and a stitch fix to reinforce Bo’s pack. We saw and chatted with “Don’t Know” outside before setting off up the trail. I learned he biked across the country with his dog years ago. Another guy showed up who I got a bad vibe from, so Bo and I left pretty abruptly and said goodbye to “Dont Know.”

Bo and I started hiking again around 1330, and I accepted that we would not be making it to the shelter that I had originally planned to. Due to the hurricane, the hot springs are closed and undergoing repairs. I wasn’t in a very good headspace leaving Hot Springs–I felt frustrated but wasn’t sure why, my heels were rubbing and painful in my shoes, the day was ticking by, Bo kept getting on my nerves pulling and jerking erratically. I listened to music while hiking for the first time in a month, which helped elevate my mood slightly. The music sounded so crisp and vibrant after not hearing it for so long.

Bo and I checked out Rich Mtn Fire Tower before calling it quits at a tent site. I’m hoping to feel better mentally tomorrow. I’ve found that when I’ve had an off day that sleeping or eating a good meal helps tremendously, so fingers crossed. I’ve been feeling rushed lately to make it to particular spots on trail to meet people and am looking forward to just getting to walk–with the only deadline being making it to Katahdin before the first snow in October.