Date: 2004-05-12
From: NOBO on VA Hwy 623 to Kimberling Creek - VA 612

To: Kimberling Creek VA 612 to VA 606
Miles today: 17.9

Day 59The Magnificent 7 disbanded. Jester did not want to hike 18 miles on his ankle. Not only was his ankle hurting but the pain went up his leg and into his groin. Rooster developed new blisters on top of blisters and decided to stay behind. Scholar woke up with a migraine headache ¢ another one out. Bear Tracks did not give a reason - he was out. So the plan for today changed again. After we broke camp and packed our gear we drove Scholar back to Atkins so she could recuperate at the Relax Inn. Still unsure about hiking today on his ankle, Jester flipped a coin and hiking lost. Jester then saw some past hiking partners staying at the Inn. They were heading into Damascus for Trail Days - Jester stayed behind. He said he had a great time and has enough material to fill several chapters in his book. Jester said he would be looking for a partner in Damascus to wheel him around in a wheelbarrow filled with ice and beer. Bear Tracks and Rooster were going to spend the day with Lady Kritter driving to Wytheville. Bear Tracks wanted to see a movie, go to a water park and play putt putt golf.By the time Sanguine, Riva Queen and I hit the trail it was 11:00. We decided to call ourselves ¢the Pods¢. I was Tripod, Riva was Bipod, and Sanguine was Monopod. Thank God the terrain was mostly flat on top of the mountain ridges. The ups and downs were minor. We made it to Jenny Knob Shelter by 4:00, covering the distance of 11 miles in 5 hours.One little climb over Brushy Mountain and we were heading to our pickup point. I ran into Mad Scientist, Yoda and Lucy with a guy named Sundance at Kimberling Creek. They were settled in for the day in a camp by the stream. We exchanged stories over beer, then departed. Crossed the creek on a suspension bridge and the three of us waited by the side of the road for Lady Kritter and the guys, the time was 7:30. The Pods thought this was the easiest 18 mile hike done so far.Lady Kritter pulled up and told us about their trip into Wytheville - no movies, no water park and no putt putt. They decided to explore the area and rode around the mountains until they found the Wolf Creek Indian Village located outside of Bastian, Va. The village was recreated just 200 yards from the archeology site carbon dated back to 1215. The site was discovered while Interstate 77 was under construction. Once research was completed, the river was diverted over the sacred grounds in order to complete I-77. From what I heard from the guys and Lady Kritter, I want to see this place on the drive back home from Maine. Since they still had some time to kill, they went to Dismal Falls. The falls were trashed with litter and they watched as locals caught undersized trout for dinner.We all piled into AWOL's truck with Lady Kritter driving. An hour and a half later at dark thirty we were in the driveway to Woods Hole Hostel. The hostel was full so we arranged our sleeping bags on the porch floor. The group was very tired and went to bed without fixing supper. Lady Kritter provided cheese and crackers which would hold us over until morning.Tomorrow would be the last time the Slack Pack Saga to Pearisburg would be together. We all expressed the feeling of sharing a great time, had many laughs and enjoyed each others company. Everyone thanked Lady Kritter for the trail magic and AWOL for the use of his vehicle. In the years to come, around coffee tables and camp fires, each of us will be talking about the episodes of our AT hike and the Slack Pack Saga to Pearisburg.