Staying 2 Nights at the Pinhoti Outdoor Center

This morning we slept in for the first time all year! I didn’t wake up until after 7 am which was the best feeling in the world. Then we slowly but surely got up. There’s no rush at all. Today we’re just planning on going about 10-12 miles while slack packing. So it’s going to feel like a day off!

Once we were up and moving, Fire Flow who stayed at the hostel last night, drove us down the road to where we finished yesterday. We picked up where we left off with light packs. When she dropped us off she drove down the road and parked. Then wound up walking out to see us along the road a couple of times. Just to walk a few miles together along the road.

Caperton’s, a small store just off the Pinhoti trail.

It was a nice easy walk along the road. And my feet felt so good in my brand new topo terraventure shoes. I missed these shoes! They have always been my absolute favorite and my go to on trail. We walked for a couple of hours along the road. People were friendly and waved at us along the way. One guy pulled over and asked what we were doing. Another guy asked where the Pinhoti outdoor center was. Then later on a friendly dog followed us for a while. But then he accidentally put himself on the other side of a fence. So he couldn’t get back over to us.

Punisher and I outside of Caperton’s.

After another hour we walked by a dollar general and stopped off for a couple things. We each got a half gallon of chocolate milk to drink along the road walk. That seemed like a killer move. What a quick way to take down 1200 calories. I also grabbed a couple other things at dollar general for resupply. Once we leave the POC we’re going to be out for about 3 days before we reach Heflin, where we’ll resupply next. This will be our longest stretch out yet!

Chugging a half gallon of chocolate milk on the road.

Then we said goodbye to Fire Flow who had parked by the dollar general to walk out with us again. She headed on home and we continued along the road. We had another handful of miles to go to complete the road walk. That way tomorrow morning we can just get dropped off where the road meets up with the trail. And start back from there.

As we walked those last few miles I worked on my half gallon of milk. It was a good chore to have. I finished it just before Chuck Norris drove out to pick us up. Last night him and Tigger came by the POC to say hello. It was so great to see them again. The POC makes me feel right at home after the numerous times I’ve been here now.

All gone! 1200 calories down real quick.

Chuck got us down the road where the trail then picked back up. And he drove us back down to the POC around 12:30pm. Even sleeping in late, we’re still going to be fine nice and early for the day. Which means we can spend the rest of the day doing absolutely nothing! I just want to lounge and not have to think about anything when we’re not hiking.

Once we got back we did just that. I got a couple things done for my blog and videos. Then shaved my legs and took a shower. I bought this tiny little razor at the store which is about 3 inches long at most. It’s so compact and I’d never seen one before anywhere. After showered we hung out to watch a movie for a while. Then a couple other hikers arrived at the hostel, named Leaf and Barista.

In my bunk at the POC.

We got to meet them and talk for a bit. Then relaxed for a little while longer before going out to dinner with Kim, Nathan, and Barista. I was excited to spend some more time with Kim and Nathan. She came by the hostel earlier and we got to talk for a bit. And around 6pm Kim came to pick us all up and take us into downtown Sylacauga.

Sitting on the porch at the POC.

Everyone met up at a pizza place in town. For dinner I got a Brussels sprout pizza with caramelized onions and goat cheese. Which was ridiculously good. Then we just had my favorite type of night, which involves laughing a whole lot. The people at the POC truly feel like family at this point. So going out to dinner with them feels like coming home. It’s effortless, comfortable, and exactly what I needed.

This white sauce pizza with Brussels sprouts on it was ridiculously good.

After we ate we headed back to the hostel. Then hung out talking with Nathan and Kim for a while there. We were all just joking around and laughing so much. That’s truly all I’m doing out here other than hiking 30 mile days. Just laughing all day long, every day.

Eventually they headed home and we said goodbye to them. Then just relaxed at the hostel for the rest of the night. Finishing up our movie from earlier and getting some writing and other work done too.

If you enjoyed this blog and would like to support my hike by buying me a soda or a snack along the way, there is a “Tip the Author” button below! It links directly to my Venmo. Any and all support is incredibly appreciated!