Date: 2015-11-03
From: Manassas Gap Shelter

To: Mountain Home Cabbin, US 522, Front Royal
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up early and hit the trail. It was a great day for hiking.For the first time that I noticed, the AT guide mentioned a "stone wall." Sure enough, there was a long stone wall next to the trail, just like all the other stone walls I noticed before, except this time the wall was mentioned in the guide. I am not sure why it was mentioned this time, but I loved the wall.The AT then started the long descent into Manassas Gap, went under I-66, and then climbed back out of the gap. It was a long tough climb.On the way out of the gap the trail passed through some open fields with beautiful views. There was even a bench. I stopped to enjoy the bench, the view, and a snack. What a GREAT place for a bench!The trail eventually went back into the woods. I spooked a small flock of turkeys and stopped to watch them fly off. I also interrupted a meeting of gray squirrels.   They scattered and hid high up in the trees. For some strange reason I really miss the sassy Maine red squirrels. The red squirrels would have run up the trees right next to the trail, loudly scolded me, and thrown things down on me. I missed that. I think maybe I have been alone in the woods too long.Before I knew it, I was at the Jim & Molly Denton shelter. What a really nice shelter with a great spring nearby. Even the privy was nice, with a split door. I guess it was designed so that hikers could open the top part and look out while taking care of business. There was also a solar shower, but I was not sure how it worked. I filtered some water, took a brief break, and then moved on.I had resupply boxes waiting for me at Mountain Home Cabbin hostel in Front Royal. My plan was to arrive by early afternoon so that I could do a little laundry, get something to eat, go through my boxes, get a shower, use wifi to enter a few trail journal entries, recharge my phone, and get to bed early. The hostel was supposed to be right next to the AT, so no shuttle or hitch hiking would be needed.When a thru hiker comes to a town he or she usually wants to resupply, get something good to eat, do laundry, take a shower, recharge their phone, and use the internet. So my expectations were not unreasonable - except apparently in this case.After a very long gradual descent I finally reached US 522. The hostel is just a stones throw up the road. The town of Front Royal, where the restaurants and laundromats are located, is about 3 miles in the opposite direction.When I arrived at the hostel it was not clear where I was supposed to go. I finally found the owner sitting at a tiny table working on his computer in the small kitchen used by guests. The property had been a pre-civil war plantation. The large main house was undergoing major renovations. The small building where I found the owner had been the slave quarters and was the hostel.There were no laundry facilities on site. The owner was willing to shuttle me to town, but not until after 6 p.m. because he was working for Sprint - telecommuting right in the middle of the tiny kitchen area supposedly available to guests. Since I wanted to get to bed early, I did not want to wait that late to eat and do laundry. My clothes would not likely be dry by morning if washed that late (I do not put my clothes in a dryer). So it soon became clear that I was not going to be able to do laundry or get something good to eat.He had frozen pizza for sale, but I did not want to interrupt his work by making noise in the tiny kitchen. There was supposed to be wifi, but he really did not want anyone using it while he was working. His specified hours for wifi use by guests are 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and he had lots of restrictions. So I could not work on trail journal entries.It appeared that all I could do immediately was take a shower. So I went upstairs (via tiny, steap, and slippery stairs), where there were 4 beds crammed together and a tiny bathroom. I decided to soak my granny panties, bra, and top in the sink while I took a shower and washed my hair.Apparently the owner was downstairs listening to everything I was doing in the bathroom. After my shower, as I was using the tub spigot to rinse the items soaking in the sink, the owner stomped up the stairs and banged on the bathroom door. I could not hear what he was saying, so I threw on a towel and opened the door. He was concerned that I was doing laundry in the sink and it would clog his septic system. I explained that I only soaked my panties, bra, and shirt, which was unlikely to damage his septic system. The more I think about him listening to me in the bathroom the creepier I feel about the whole situation.Two middle aged section hikers from Alabama showed up. At 6 p.m. the owner took them into town to eat. I bought a frozen pizza and ate it while trying to get some trail journal entries done. I also found and read the rules for hostel guests - all 2 & 1/4 pages - single spaced!I went through my resupply boxes and then got ready for bed. Unfortunately both of the guys from Alabama snored loudly all night. I barely slept.This was nothing like any of my other hostel experiences, but it was only $20, and only for 1 night.The AT is calling. Under the circumstances, I am VERY ready to get back on the trail.