Putt Putt.

Day 23 was half an in-town day and half an on-trail day. I started my day by packing up and checking out of Laughing Heart. I headed straight into town as the Appalachian Trail literally goes right down the main street through town.

Hot Springs is regarded as one of the better trail towns on the entire Appalachian Trail. It’s small, quaint, and has everything a hiker could need. I had brunch at the local diner—chicken and waffles. I resupplied at the local market. I stopped by the local outfitters for some hydration tablets and stickers. It was everything I needed and was conveniently located right on the trail.

I headed out on the trail around midday and crossed over the French Broad River. There was a steep ascent up Lover’s Leap, but I did get some spectacular views of the town below.

I was kept company by Creek and Critter for most of the hike. We stopped at a pond for lunch, which quickly escalated into a fishing expedition. Critter saw a bass in the pond, and we spent about an hour trying to catch the damn thing with nothing but a thin rope, some sticks as a hook, and a worm. The fish seemed interested but ultimately never took the bait.

The rest of the day was pretty mellow, but mostly uphill. The shelters have been small and have filled up; today was no different. I pitched my tent, fetched water, and made food. I chilled out for the rest of the night and started putting a plan together for the next town stop.

The previous night, we all took turns telling our stories about playing Hillbilly Golf back in Gatlinburg. It was such a funny and entertaining story that had a unique element. Since I was the winner of putt-putt and it was a fun story, that is how I got my trail name, Putt Putt.

I am currently on mile miker 286 of the Appalachian Trail.