Cold Creek Shelter to Nantahala Outdoor Center (6/7/14)

This is Cold Creek Shelter I stayed in with Hope and King Nickie last night.

Here is a view from one of the overlooks.

I'm not exactly sure what tree this is, but the flower was beautiful!

A mushroom I saw along the trail...I was enticed by its orange color.

One of the panoramas I took from Jump Off Point.

Yesterday I hiked 16 miles because I saw that Hope and King Nickie were staying at the next shelter up from where I had planned to stay. I decided it would be nice to see them again, and I had anticipated making it to the Nantahala Oitdoor Center (NOC) today. Hope had planned to make it here today, too, so when I got to the shelter, I decided I would hike with her and King Nickie to the NOC.  We did a pretty decent hike today, and I managed to get a room in he bunkhouse. At $17, it wasn't a bad deal, especially considering it included a shower and something that resembles a bed!  We arrived here around 5:30pm-ish, got our rooms (Hope had to get a bunk room to herself because they don't want dogs in rooms with other people...poor King Nickie). 

After we got our rooms, I got my AT passport stamped and went in search of a small waterproof (e.g. Rite-in-the-rain) notebook to keep in my pocket. Every outfitter I stopped at told me NOC would have them. They HAD them, but due to the particularly rainy start to the AT thru hiking season, they had sold out of them. I was a little unhappy with that, but what else could I do? 

The NOC is a sprawling outdoor outfitter center. They do whitewater rafting/kayaking and all other kinds of outdoor stuff. They have an outfitter, general store, laundry room and multiple restaurants. After starting our laundry, Hope and I went to one of the restaurants and had a beer and a burger. Believe it or not, it was REALLY good! The beer was a local craft beer and my burger had bacon on it. Yum! I had passed a couple of hikers on the trail yesterday on my way to Cold Creek Shelter, Jason and Vanessa from Wisconsin.  They were doing a couple week hike. They showed up at the NOC tonight, finishing up the couple of weeks hike they had planned to do. Hope and I were sitting at a large table, so she invited them to sit with us for dinner.  I have to say I have enjoyed meeting all different people on the trail!

After dinner, Hope said she would tend to the laundry, and I brought a package to the bunkhouses that she shipped to herself and picked up today. I have since plugged my phone in and am getting ready for bed. I'm probably going to have breakfast with Hope tomorrow before I set back out on the trail. This will probably be the last time I see her hiking unless some unfortunate incident happens that holds me back.  That being said, Hope and King Nickie--I wish you God's Speed and grace as you continue your hike! Keep enjoying the beauty of nature, and thanks for being such awesome friends to hike with! Dominus vobiscum!

All of that being said, my last two days after my zero day have been fun filled and hiking intense. I plan to get some sleep tonight then press on after breakfast. Keep smiling and keep reading! If these past (not quite) two weeks of hiking have been an indicator, my time on the trail is only going to get more fun!