As I was so impressed with my mileage yesterday I thought I would enjoy the luxury of lie in. I slept so well so lay dozing as the sun began to shine on my tent.
Aa 8 I got up went to visit the privy,  basically a toilet sat in the woods.
After I lowered my food bag, I scuttled back to my tent where I made tea and Instant oats for breakfast .
I stripped my tent and was packed but decided that I would have another cuppa then i would be ready .I hoisted my pack and walked back to the shelter,said my good-byes I visited  the stream to get water , whilst here I decided  to wash my socks.
I then tied them to my pack and returned to the trail.
The trail started gentle but then wasnt long until   the climbing began  and of course it was steep , and so I was soon  sweating like a pig and puffing like a train, OMG it was steep then once i was up it  imeaditatley plunged  straight down.  So no views at the top   WTF  was the point of that , I muttered to myself.  This was today’s agenda up and down for no apparent reason. it killed me .
There is an acronym for  this and  its called   “PUDS”  which stands for  “Point;less Up and Downs !!”

I normally I  like to do 4 hours before a break but this was killing me  and  so i  needed to stop .I eventually stopped by a stream , topped up with  water and scoffed a few snacks  before  renewing my  climbing.
At last I came to the shelter,  appartantly  the water here had dried up   and so none available , ” of the guys ran  back down the trail  to get water

There were about a dozen other hikers all flaked out from the climbing and the heat so I joined them. dropped my pack stripped off my soaking top and laid it out on the table then ate lunch before resting
One by one the other Hikers began to peel away. reluctantly I packed up and set off in pursuit.  It was six miles to Town but  i  needed to climb a few more crazy  hills first .
Again some  of these climbs seemed pointless and due to low water I  was trying to drink less. Not so much fun as the temperature began to rise, I slogged up another huge hill willing it to be the last. sadly it wasn’t and i  still had several more.
At last I  began to catch glimpses of Erwin or rather the river and railway. I stopped and watched a train crossing before continuing. It was 1 1/2  miles to go and it was down. all the way . As i decended  the  river began to grow louder and  theni was standing on a road  I fancied  staying at  a motel, but in front of me stood “uncle Johnnies  hostel.

When I walked up, i could see many familiar faces and a beer was thrust into my hand . which i promptly  drained, I equire about bunks  but  theywere all taken and camping was  $17 inc shower.  I paid my money ,then brought 6 new shimmy tent stakes.
I found myself a  spot and put up my tent, then i wemt to checkout the hiker boxes.

NB THIS is where hikers ditch their excess food, kit and other stuff.

I was lucky a big batch of meals. so I added them to my food bag.I then went and joined the other smelly hikers on the veranda.
Hikers have a thing about beer and so as soon as they get to town everyone grabs  a 20 pack of beer.

But  normally are unable to  drink t all  and so it gets left in the fridge  for  other hikers so free beer ..Why thank you girls and boys

Earlier a group of hikers had taken the shuttle  to walmart but as I was still finding my feet I didn’t go.  But now i was hungry , one of  the ladies  then  offers to take me and Robin hood to get. burger and shake.
She drops us off then says  get  me a shake  then shes  is off to  get the guys from walmart .
I ordered 2 X fries and 2 X double bacon and cheese burger and banana shake.
OMG It was the best banana milk shake I had in ages, and the fries and burger  also tasted  so good . I struggled to eat as it was massive.
Once back at the Hostel ,I jumped in the shower , then when i was clean washed my stinky stuff  before i returning to the  veranda.
There was great  wifi  here  so was able  to upload and post my videos, which was a relief as I don’t like them  all saved on my phone…..Just in case!!!

I chatted to old and new friends, toasted a friend’s father for sending him some good bourbon. toasted my late brother. drank a few more beers then bed
I did 16 miles today and it’s tough  so night all

Start 327
Finish 343.7
mileage 16.7 miles
Remaining 1847 Miles