Appalachian Trail SOBO Day 30 –Zero at the Notch Hostel
25th August 2023
The Notch Hostel
Daily miles: 0
Total miles: 396.5
I slept so well, largely thanks to the earplugs, but also because it was a nice comfortable bed with lovely cozy bed linen.
I woke up normal time - 5am - and said nope and went back to sleep. I got up at 7am to drop my laundry in and went back to bed until 09:30. I really needed that rest. Although my body feels like it’s been slammed, I feel good. Walking was difficult this morning. The stairs were a challenge but I soon loosened up.
The skin has cracked on the outside of my right foot
These shoes are dead
The holes were getting bigger every day
Out with the old (Altra Lone Peak 7) and in with the new (Hoka Speedgoat 5)
I ate leftover noodles for breakfast and the rest of my Pringles. Mostly mooched around. Did a few chores. Emails. Downloading podcasts. Uploading to Instagram. Chatting to my parents. It all takes time.
Noodles for breakfast
Toe and Mayqueen arrived around 11:30. Toe I met back in Monson and it’s the first time I met Mayqueen. We are now a bubble of SOBOs! Although they are still 16 miles behind us and have to get over the Kinsmans.
Cal knows them both from the PCT and eventually wants to hike with them. I don’t know if that includes me or not. It’s that weird situation where I’m on the outside. They are already all friends and arranged to hike together and I’m still kind of… on the edge. I hope to be part of the group but we’ll see what happens.
These loaner shoes are so comfortable, I wish I could hike in them!
We went into town because they had run out of food and were starving so we went to a restaurant with a couple of NOBOs. Back at the hostel we did a lot of chatting and catching up and determining who we have met and whether we have met the same people!
SOBO friends! May Queen / Toe / Cal
We took the 5:30pm shuttle to town to resupply. I might ship my stove ahead when I get to the next town. There is little point me carrying it as I’m not using it. Nor have I purchased anything that I would need to use it for. It’s mostly candy and Twix bars in my resupply.
My resupply
Toe offered to cook dinner at the hostel so we all chipped in for veggie pasta and salad which was awesome. Always happy for someone else to cook!
Suddenly it was 8pm and I don’t know where the time has gone. I didn’t feel ready for bed but knew I had to get organised for the morning. The shuttle leaves at 7am to get back to the trail.
Dinner cooked by Toe and May Queen
I feel like I could stay here for another couple of days but it’s kinda spenny so gotta keep moving!
