Date: 2005-05-11
From: Campsite just past powerline on Pearis Mountain

To: VA Route 641
Miles today: 7.0

DAY 61By 7:30 am we were packed up and on the Trail to Pearisburg. Rocky was excited and enthusiastic about getting into Pearisburg early. It was a bright and clear morning atop Pearisburg Mountain. As we hiked along the ridge of the Mountain, we came to an overlook and looked down on Pearisburg to the north. There was a layer of clouds covering the valley below, while we were in the sunshine. It was a beautiful sight.As we descended the Trail into Pearisburg, Tomcat caught up with us. The three of us had to be wary of the poison ivy that was starting to grow over the Trail. We were headed for the Rendezvous Inn, located near the entrance into town. The guide book said, ¢When you come out of the woods between two houses, go right about a block to North Main Street (across the street is the Rendezvous Motel)¢. I was following a detailed map of Pearisburg from the 2005 AT Companion. Something didn¢t look right, so we kept going. Soon we crossed the New River, with the nasty looking Celanese Plant on our left. We kept going and reentered the woods, going up and down hills, and avoiding the poison ivy. Eventually we crossed another paved road, and I realized that I had screwed up big time. I blame it on the AT Companion map. Unlike most maps with north at the top, this map had north on the left, which I never noticed until we came out to the road, Clendenin Road, which is VA Route 641. We had walked over two miles beyond the road to the Rendezvous Motel. We turned left on Clendenin Road a walked to the main highway back to Pearisburg, which is US Route 460. We were able to get a ride in an empty ambulance and the driver took us almost to the Rendezvous Motel. Although we had lost quite a bit of time, Rocky didn¢t seem to hold my map reading mistake against me. She had lost valuable time in which she wanted to get cleaned up before her husband arrives at the Rendezvous Motel.At the Rendezvous Motel, we found that they were fully booked up. While we were on our wild goose chase, Chuckles and Gotta Go came in and took the last available room. However, Sowega and The Blondes already had rooms there. We were able to get laundry done and cleaned up a little while we awaited the arrival of Rocky¢s husband. We were also awaiting the arrival of Sowega¢s mom, Regina. She was anxious to see her son and will accompany him back to Trail Days. The Rendezvous Motel owner is very hiker friendly, and even though they were booked up they located other rooms for us up the hill at the Plaza Motel. The Rendezvous Motel staff even drove us up the long hill to the Plaza Motel where we checked in. Rocky took a room and Tomcat and I took another room. Since we had time to wait before the arrival of Rocky¢s husband and Sowega¢s mom, we went to an AYCE Chinese buffet across the road from the Plaza Motel. We were joined by Chuckles and Gotta Go. They are a 60 plus couple from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. They recently had a franchise at Dollywood, near Gatlinburg, TN, which they had to close down to hike the Trail. While we were eating our AYCE lunch I started to notice a sore spot on the inside of my right knee. I am paying it no mind as a little pain is normal on the Trail. When Rocky¢s husband arrived with Sowega¢s mom, I felt a little funny. Is our wonderful Trail friendship over? I don¢t know, but I have been a little sad for the rest of the day. Later this afternoon, Sowega called the room I am sharing with Tomcat. He asked if we were interested in joining him and his mom for dinner in nearby Blacksburg, Virginia. We were soon picked up and on our way to Blacksburg, home of Virginia Tech (VPI). The Blondes were with us as well. On the way to Blacksburg Jukebox received a call on her cell phone from her boy friend. He was in the area and wanted to meet her at a nearby hotel. So we dropped Jukebox off, and continued into Blacksburg.We had dinner at a noisy bar/restaurant near the VPI campus. Afterwards, Sowega wanted to see the VPI campus. We drove through the sprawling campus in the dark. I was sleepy and just wanted to get back to our motel. I am back in our room, feeling a little depressed. The past two weeks have been the best since I have been on the Trail. It looks like it¢s over with my Trail ¢family¢. I will take the Trail Days break to visit some in-laws in the Roanoke area, as previously planned.