(Daily Mi: 7.3) Cold as all get out last night. Never did get purely warm, but eventually lapsed into shock.

Brother and I hiked to the last bit of the Trail roadhead together but split up with slightly different hitch hiking strategies in mind.

Mine worked well as I caught a ride from a very nice, younger local couple before I had even stuck out my thumb. Only downside is that they insist on taking me right to the Catholic church hostel. I am headed there eventually of course, but wanted to stop in the center of town to get breakfast first. However, they want to check out the hostel, and I can always get breakfast after I drop my gear. So, I keep mum.

Awesome place, the hostel. One of those places that gives true institutional love to thru hikers (we don't deserve it) Shower, kitchen, reading room, 2nd floor bunkroom. Porch and swing with a view.

There is in fact a brand new Wal-Mart Supercenter in view from the hostel across a large stretch of open field. However the town center, post office and other services I bypassed earlier are a mile the other direction. At least it's downhill on the way.

Take a hike to buy lunch/dinner and toiletries and check at the P.O.

Meet Brother hiking out from the town center. My drop box is at the P.O. but not the sleeping bag. Buy a whole fried chicken and a sack of Krispy Kremes.

Back at the hostel, I find Brother and two SoBos known as the California Boys, a pair 19 year olds from San Diego.

They possess that healthy sense of entitlement that infects many, particularly younger, thru hikers, and I have begun to see why it so completely irks the locals.

Find a registry entry from Crusader about two weeks old admonishing his then current hostel mates to clean up after themselves. He draws a little sword in his signature. I smile remembering the scores of times I watched him draw this logo in ME.