Day 53-I Feel Like I Am Leaving Grandmas

So this was my last time waking up in my Victorian room, I went down for breakfast and had the same as the first morning; scrambled eggs with cheese, a waffle, and fresh fruit. Linda told me that I have been great, like having her granddaughter here that I could just hang out in the room until my second package came from my mom; and then the phone rang. Seems the guests that were supposed to arrive Saturday were looking to come today...looks like I've got to be out of the room by 11:00 (checkout) but she did say I could hang around downstairs or on the front porch. Works for me! I went upstairs to take a bath to let the heat relax my muscles one last time, then showered. I gathered all of my things together in the room and packed my bag. I decided to weigh myself, and weigh my pack-seems I am still around 110lbs and my pack weighs in at around 40lbs that can't be right! I have a bunch of food, tortillas, wipes, and such that is heavy but each day will weigh less so that is always a plus. I'd love to get my pack down to 20-25 lbs that would be a lot more forgiving on my body. I swapped out all of my cold weather clothes and will be sending those home (minus my down jacket just in case), as well as my colder bag for a lighter one for the summer. I did opt to keep my liner as of now which is a little bulky and heavier than my sleeping bag but it is nice to feel that against my skin rather than the sticky sleeping bag material. I also like to use it as a laundry bag in town to carry all of my clothes-we will see! I am sending back both Nalgene bottles since I picked up a Nalgene bag (a little lighter, and still the same nalgene top which screws nicely into my MSR pump filter.) Now I am just sitting on the front porch with my leg elevated and an ice pack on my right shin. Hoping my package doesn't come too late so I can take my time with the miles-either way I gotta take my time, the first shelter is 9 miles out of town I believe so I will either camp there, or a little before or a little after with my tent. We will see! I talked with Lynn this morning, she stayed at Roan Mtn. shelter last night so I really hope we cross paths again, Big Dave stayed in Hampton so he won't get to Damascus until Saturday and Wild Child is helping out at Kincora. It's pretty hot and humid today, calling for thunderstorms later on (basically when I will be heading out-can't win haha) Linda came out to compliment me on how clean of a guest I was-she said she has never had such an easy clean-up after someone who has stayed for 3 days. She then told me of a story of someone who stayed a few days and used about 4 large towels, one for each shower-I used my same towel the whole time. She sat and talked with me on the porch a bit since she was done cleaning upstairs. After, I texted my mom to let her know, I feel like that is a compliment mothers enjoy hearing. Pheonix and Johnny Appleseed just came up to the porch not realizing who they were at first! Haven't seen them since the Smokies! Seems Pheonix is having similar shin problems as well, they got off for a few days for a wedding and it still is acting up so they are looking for a B&B to relax at. They ended up going with another one around the corner (there is like 4 right around here) but it was still good to see them. After dozing in and out of a nap, Linda came out and asked if I was hungry; now I replied with I can always eat! (But was surprised since I've never been around during lunchtime.) She had told me earlier how she was making a pot of chicken and kale soup and now she was offering me some! Yes please! "Crackers?" She asked-sure! Out came a bowl of lemon kale chicken and rice soup with club crackers. She had said how she didn't care for it but hopes I like it, and had to run to answer the phone. By the time she returned, it was almost gone. I told her how I thought it was really good and she asked if I would like another bowl-since she had a whole pot, I said I would. When she brought me the second bowl she said I sure could eat a whole lot for being so small, I replied with I get that a lot! It's so nice to have homemade HEALTHY food when all I eat is junk packaging on the trail or town food. A treat for sure! Thank you Linda. I had asked Dexter earlier if he would get me 2 tacos while he was at Hey Joes since they were finally open-after Linda offered her soup I had told him nevermind, since I hadn't heard back from him-turns out I was too late. Dexter walked up with a to-go box of two beef tacos as I was on my second bowl of soup. Depending on when my package gets here now I have dinner! How long will tacos keep...hopefully they will be ok. Just living the porch life and a red blazer drives by, then 10 minutes later they pull in-hey I know this woman! It's Mary from Mountain Harbour! She was dropping off a mother and daughter (the ones who are coming to stay today instead of Saturday) so I explained how I had been resting my shin. That was a nice friendly surprise to see her again! Such great people you meet along the way. It wasn't until quarter after 3 when my UPS truck showed up with the package from my mom. Jerry got home and asked Linda if they were adopting me, he also said on his way home the rain was heavy at times. The sky then grew dark and the thunder rolled, shortly after it started to rain. I went inside to call FedEx to have them pickup the two boxes I am sending back home; when Linda proposed she could put me up for the night on the couch free of charge if I wanted. There truely are some nice people down here! I called my mom and asked her what she thought and as soon as I was done telling her the situation she said, did you not read my text? Seems right before I called she had sent: "Does she have room to stay another nite & just head out early tomorrow am?" I did not see it however until after the phone call-freaky! Guess I was meant to stay another night! Another day, and night to rest the body; I am thankful that I don't have to leave town in the rain, try to hike to a shelter nearing dark, and end up pushing myself too hard because of the weather and lack of daylight-tomorrow is a new day. Are ya'll tired of seeing my feet propped up?! Below you can see my nicely packaged tacos that I was going to bring on the trail; instead, I just busted them out for a little snack on the porch! You know you've been in a town too long when the locals ask you about live music and restarunts for other guests...haha again, another night if porch sitting. Linda and Jerry have some friends over they are in playing cards and I am enjoying the relaxing front porch-I don't think I could onw a house without a porch...it's getting late so I was thinking of heading in and getting ready for bed and then I saw fireflies! Officially summer. Officially back in the woods tomorrow.