Date: 2015-05-29
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Holy Family Hostel
Miles today: 11.1

I woke up early and enjoyed a good homemade breakfast and probably way to much coffee! Soon I was on the 1/2 mile road walk back up to the trail. It was a beautiful and gentle hike into Pearisburg. First thing in the morning there was a climb up and over to the Doc's Knob Shelter. Then there was a view on the trail and a short jaunt to the Angel's Rest which also had a view which was great. I made it to an intersection and met two other hikers and asked directions to the library. They were starting to give me directions when a car approached and I stepped back and fell (ungracefully) right into a ditch, landing on my backside with a solid thump! I was asked if I was o.k. by the hikers and the lady in the car who had witnessed the event. She asked what I was looking for and I told her the library and she insisted that she give me a ride so I threw my pack and poles in the back seat and then climbed in and off we went. I spent about five hours updating my trailjournals.com , facebook, and emails. I then asked for directions to the hostel near the Catholic Church and found that it wasn't too far away so I started walking. At the gas station I grabbed a bag of 7 Layer Tortilla Dip Combos, A Dark Chocolate Porter Stout beer from Boulder, Colorado and (much to my surprise) a Cowtail candy! I poured my stout into a Styrofoam cup and had lunch sitting outside of the gas station. I was refreshed as it is getting pretty hot now that summer had arrived. I then walked to the Church and saw the sign reading "Hostel" and a path leading around to the back of the building. Once behind the building I couldn't find the hostel at first. I went and knocked on several doors and then walked around the back of the building but nothing. Then I looked further back across the grass and saw an old barn on the other side of a hedge and I caught a glimpse of a tent in the field beyond so I struck across the field and found the hostel and was greeted by some familiar faces. Before you go on the porch you will see a red pole with a slot where you will deposit your donation of $10.00. Then you will climb onto a large wraparound porch with a BBQ grill, picnic table, mattresses to sleep on and a great view. Walking in is a living room with a small library and reading room to the right and a staircase to the loft to your left. Continuing further there is the kitchen with a refrigerator and microwave with cups, plates and silverware and a limited amount of pots and pans. Also there are some spices to cook with. On the right side is the bathroom and across from the bathroom is the kitchen sink that you have to turn the water off when you are not using it due to a leak. Upstairs are a number of mattresses spread on the floor with room to walk around between them. There are two large shutters that can be opened to air out the loft and let in fresh air. Warning! When the BBQ is cooking the loft tends to smoke up so keeping the loft open is a good idea while cooking. It was good to relax and I was asked if I wanted to go in on some dinner to throw on the grill and I agreed and gave $20.00 for food and a six pack of a good dark beer to share. Several people left to walk the short distance to Walmart for supplies and I found a place to sit back and relax while I waited after my shower. I hadn't had a chance to play my Trailside Appalachian Trail Game much on the trail so I donated it to the hostel so that hikes could have something to do with their free time there. I read a comic book about soldiers in the French Foreign Legion which was funny in a weird sort of way like dry English humor. Soon the food arrived and everyone was given something to do to help prepare for dinner. After washing out hands I was given a large bag of grapes to pull off of the vine while "Chef" started cutting up strawberries to go in. Sweet Onions were sliced open from the top and butter and seasonings were applied. The onions were then wrapped in bacon and covered in tinfoil before being thrown into the coals under the grill. Several huge bowls of fruit salad consisting of grapes, strawberries, plums, apples, and other fruit which then had sugar and orange juice poured over it and let to sit and caramelize. When the chicken was done it was chopped into pieces and made into a grilled chicken salad to be put on grilled buns. We started feasting and it was the best meal that I have had on the trail thus far. We had just finished eating when two police officers arrived and let everyone know that drinking alcohol was not permitted on the premises and pointed out a small list of rules on a cluttered bulletin board inside. We apologized and poured out any remaining beers, promising not to go out and get more. The officers remarked how quiet it was and how good the food smelled and wished us a good evening before they departed. Soon afterwards it was off to bed for the night and a good night's sleep.