Date: 2008-04-12
From: doc's knob shelter

To: pearisburg, va
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Took a "nero" today. We started at the shelter before Pearisburg and got up and hiked into town. A couple nice views of the surrounding area. Cool to look down on everyone scurrying about their business while we chill and eat crackers.At the top of the hill, we came across a cow. It was just chilling there. No grass or water, pretty peculiar.We set up shop at the church hostel in town after the 2.5 mile walk to get there. However, we were able to scope out our food options on the way.We hit up Pizza Hut for lunch. Medium pizzas and two heaping plates from the salad bar. Delicious. It was here that Humus announced that I eat more than anyone else he knows. It seems I'm becoming something of a legend in this department.For desert we went to Dairy Queen and had extra large blizzards. Very good. Chatted with Biscuit a bit who we bumped into there.Slowly began ambling back to the hostel, and hit up the dollar store on the way.This town is what I would call the epitome of southern towns. The court house had a monument to the fallen brothers of the confederacy in front of it. Some other interestingly racially offensive stuff I won't mention here.As we were headed back, a guy in a truck stopped and told us he would take us back to the hostel. Weird because we are constantly being identified as hikers even when we don't have our gear. Oh well, free ride and saved a couple miles.At the hostel we planned our resupply and where we would eat. Only there a bit before we headed back to another restaurant. Mexican this time. May be a bad idea. Good food though.I finally got to weigh myself for the first time on the trail. I did so after demolishing some food, so it was probably a little high, but according to the scale my weight hasn't really changed. That's pretty awesome and confirms I'm doing good with what I've been eating, and I have been eating enough, though I'm sure the town visits help. I know I have gained some muscle {legs for sure} so I probably have lost some fat, but I should be good.Hit up Wal-Mart to complete the resupply and headed back.Finally had a chance to shower and it felt amazing as always. Packed up and got ready to go in the morning. Looks like just me Bad Humus and Toddy Bear at the hostel tonight.Slight rant here. We bumped into a couple hikers we knew, and as always, they immediately accused us of yellow-blazing {hitch hiking to skip some of the trail, think about it} to catch them. They said this was the only way we could catch them. They also told us Stovie told them he yellow blazed to catch them. I know for a fact this is completely untrue, and even if it was, Stovie never would have told them. They also previously told me they were better than me because they didn't use hiking poles, and they were carrying a lighter weight sleeping bag. They also constantly leave trash where they sleep.1. I am not competing2. I don't care what kind of gear you have, mine works for me.3. I just want to hike in peace and not have to be hounded by tools like this and have to constantly see their trash. Is that too much to ask?It is people like this who give hikers a bad name and destroy the trail. They are a true detriment to the Appalachian Trail.End rant, I had to get that out. None of us can stand them.