After winding through the woods for half a day, the map shows another adjacent road that I switch to in order to break up the day.
There are some nice backcountry houses along here that clearly depend on well water. There’s even a well with a bucket.
I wonder if they have to use that for everything.
As the day starts to wind down, I realize that I’m coming to a trailhead at a state route that is about 10 minutes from Talladega, AL.
I had no idea that was a real place.
The mapping app says there’s a hostel, and that people will come pick you up from the trail head.
Should I go to the hostel? That would be two nights indoors out of 4 nights on the trail. Doesn’t that seem like cheating? I’m getting the impression that this is how it’s done on the east coast.
If I can sleep indoors and get back out here at early o’clock, it seems stubborn not to take the opportunity, so I give them a call.
The hostel owners encourage me to take their truck so that I can resupply. It’s strange to me, but I welcome hospitality when it’s offered to me.
The heat is on high in the hostel, and I lay my quilt and bivy out to dry, and top up my power bank.
They have an outdoor shower, but, honestly, showering in 40 degree weather doesn’t seem appealing, so I opt out of that, and drift off to sleep, feeling a little strange, but also thankful for the hostel availability.
Also they had some cookies, which I ate. I left 4 cookies - I didn’t want to eat all of anyone’s cookies.
That seems rude.