I am writing this entry from the rear hatch area of my 2008 Toyota Highlander where I am trying to lie down flat on my sleeping pad and bag. “Lie down” should be interpreted liberally. With the mid-car seats folded forward, and a slight bend at my hips, I can almost extend flat on my back diagonally across the hatch floor panel. My left leg can be extended straight into the corner, but I have to bend my right leg up at the knee to avoid the interior hatch rear panel. If I shift left then rotate, then shift, shift, rotate – its a perfect fit. I am a human Tetris piece.
I parked in a small gravel lot located next to the AT just as it descends into the town of Hot Springs, NC. I left work this afternoon a few hours early and drove the 5 hours to get here. It was getting dark when I arrived and rather than trying to find a suitable flat spot in the woods to stealth tent camp, I have decided to sleep in the car. I will likely regret that decision around 2am.
I am meeting my shuttle driver here at 7:30am tomorrow for a ride over to Davenport Gap. Then it’s about 35 mountain miles back to the car. I’m going to open the windows a bit – sleeping in a car is hot and stuffy!
The Professor