Date: 2014-05-04
From: Doc's Knob Shelter

To: Pearisburg, Virginia
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

Was up at 6 and hiking by 620. The rest of the group talked last night about getting an early start also but there was little movement on their part. Easy downhill to begin with as the horizon slowly lite up. Made it to the powerlines at mm 626.4 and what a magnificent view. You could see for miles on both sides of the ridge and all of the surrounding valleys. Continued on down the mountain to Angel's Rest which is an outcropping at mm 628.8 and overlooked all of the town of Pearisburg and the countryside. Made it down to paved road but wasn't sure if it was the one I was suppose to take. Decided to chance it and was lucky enough to stop a car headed up the hill to confirm it was so I continued on into town which was quite spread out. I initially was going to stay at a church hostel on the otherside of town but it was 2.7 miles away and there was not an easy transportation available. Now some would say why not just walk it. As I've said before, thru hikers do not want to take any extra steps if they can avoid it so I stopped at one of the local motels which had a hostel and for $20 I would have a bed, shower and a place to do my laundry. On top of that there was an All You Can Eat (AYCE) Chinese Buffet across the street along with a Food Lion. Furthermore, the Post Office where I had my mail pick up was only a block away and there was a Mexican Restraunt up a block in the other direction significantly minimizing the amount of walking around I would have to do. Once settled in an a showere completed it was off to the AYCE buffet where an hour and four plates later my appetite was temporarily satisfied. I then headed back to the hostel which also had a computer so I was able to update a number of days in my journal as I am doing now. Please note it will be about another 6 - 7 days before I can do this again. There was also a museum of a person who settled in the area so I toured that which included the history of the settling of Giles county which is where Pearisburg is located. Also to a 3 block walk to the downtown area to see some interesting architecture and wall murals. Its things like this I like to see and would not be seeing them if not hiking. Planned out food menu and did some quick shopping at Dollar General. Really trying to keep food bag weight down as this is a 6 day trip between resupplies. Went and had some Mexican food with Head Banger who is also laid up waiting to go to the Post Office on Monday. Then it was back to the hostel to post some cards, called my parents and talked to my sister Jean Marie. By then it was about 9 so it was some light reading and off to sleep. There are chances of thunderstorms this week with rain and the temperature is climbing into the low 80's. I'm going to have to keep an eye on the water supply to make sure i stay hydrated. It shouldn't be too hard as there are a number of streams and hopefully with the rain they will continue to flow adequately enough that we will be able to get water. Tomorrow will be a short hike of only 7 to 10 miles dependent on how quickly I can get my package and repack my winter gear to send home. I will be trying to get a hold of my friend Terry to let her know how I'm doing and a ball park idea when I will be in the Waynesboro area. That way we can coordinate a possible pick up point so we can meet. Hopefully, her husband Doug who I sugar with (make maple syrup) will also be there so I can catch up on how the season went since I missed the run.