When I broke camp and headed into Youngsville I had no idea I would be coming a step closer to my life's work of eating all known foods. How quickly I forgot my disappointment at learning the laundromat was out of business when I saw Griffin's Restaurant served brains and eggs for breakfast. I just had to try it despite the face that the waitress made. It was just a part of my complete breakfast: brains & eggs, hash browns, 2 biscuits, and a country ham biscuit. I ate like North Carolina royalty. I'm happy to say that pork brains are tasty. I'll have to make them for my sister when I finish the trail.

The fifteen mile brain fueled hike to the dam went fairly quickly. I wasn't sure where I was staying at first, but I called Old Chief who emailed me his number yesterday. He has completed both the AT and MST. In fact he is close to hiking all of the AT in sections a second time. He met me at the dam and we hit it off right away. It's nice to share stories with someone who has been there and done that. And as a hiker he is intimately familiar with our needs: gear stores, food, laundry, email, and a warm bed for the night. All that plus he was able to talk to me about what is ahead on the MST. By the way his wife cooked a wonderful and hearty meal.