The Doyle Hotel

The Doyle is a great hiker hotel however don't make reservation for your vacation.  It is the kind of place only someone who has been sleeping on the ground will think is acceptable.  However, the bar and food are great.   Pat and Vickey are wonderful to hikers and all their customers.  And it is a center of AT information and activity. 

Last night we met "Bag of Tricks".  He and others at the bar were talking hiking and he said he was there to meet "Lead Dog" and buy him dinner and a room.  Seems they met in GA when Lead Dog left in March and again later in Damascus VA. 

Eric D. is Lead Dog and he has been hiking  somewhere every year for the last 10 years.   He is a speed hiker and back on the AT this year.  He is my new favorite to finish first this year (even though he is "not racing").  He is a day behind Toe Man and a week+ behind Nature Boy.

Also saw Blueist at the Doyle.  She will leave tomorrow,  a day behind us.  We hope/expect to see her again