Date: 2012-04-30
From: Wapiti Shelter - Tented

To: Sugar Rum Gap - Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: clear sky

Day 36 - Monday, April 30thHiking Days 28 / Nero Days 6 /  Zero Days 2Start Location: Wapiti Shelter - TentedMile Marker: 613.2Ending Location: Sugar Rum Gap - Woods Hole HostelMile Marker: 619.4 - Nero 6Time: 2h 44min Miles: 6.2Weather: Nice morning, clear skies and sunny later.  Warmer high around 75.Slept well.  Nice night with slight breeze.  Since my goal was to get to the hostel early, I would get up on time. So up at 6:15.  On trail at 7:00.  One 1300 foot climb first thing then the rest should be ok.  The climb proved to be much more on the page then it was in reality.  As it turned out, arrived as estimated at 9:45.Since it was so early, I met several hikers coming up the road I was coming down.  It always nice to be the one coming in.  Unfortunately, I will be the one leaving tomorrow and I'll get to see the happy faces coming in.  However, with stopping at Pearisburg tomorrow, it's a double Nero day for me. As soon as I arrived at the hostel I saw Dundee.  He made it his 45 miles.  Ekkk.  It was funny because when I came to this edge/drop off I would normally go right by it but this time I took the time to see if Dundee may have fallen over it.  It just would not be hard to do in the dark.  He indicated there was a shuttle going to town.  I don't even really have to go but I have found that the shuttle rides are usually an experience by themselves.  This one was no exception. The van was full, maybe 8 of us and a dog.  The driver indicated he wanted this to be a short run and asked where everyone needed to go.  Of course with 8 people there was a multiple if places.  I went to the post office and sent my pants back.  Then on to Food Lion where I picked up the usual ice cream, chips, drink and sandwich for lunch.  I am planning to have the hostel dinner.  Back into the van and on to the health clinic to drop off two hikers experiencing stomach issues.  They think it was food related but were not ruling out bad water.  Dropped them off then on to Walmart.  Picked up what I think might be the battery for my headlamp.  They had 0.20 Ramen's but I would have to still carry them the 10 miles into Pearisburg.  Not worth it.  Since not everyone was out yet, a few of us ran over to the Wendy's.  Two cheese burgers, fries and a large frosty.  Better yet, I got a spoon for my melting ice cream I bought at Food Lion. Eventually everyone got back to the van.  Back in and on our way back to the hostel.  So here I was listening to mountain music eating my Ben and Jerry's chocolate chip cookie dough, with a van full of other AT hikers as the van swayed sharply on the back roads of the mountains.  Trip was worth $5. Back at the hostel I signed up for a bunk and breakfast.  As it turns out, the famous Woods Hole organic meal was not being served today.  Taking the night off.  I guess they try to take one night a week off and haven't for at least a month.  Of course it is when I'm there.  However I am actually rather full from all my eating and still have a sandwich left.  But I did sign up for breakfast and I won't have to hurry through it since I only have a ten mile day. I took out my headlamp and popped the back of my headlamp to get to the battery.  Oh shit.  Wrong battery.  The same 6v I made sure of, the same length but not the same thickness.  But wait. If it is a 6v which it it and is the same length, I bet the connectors will touch.  Put it in and .. Yea .. Light.  Bright light at that.  It may not be a lithium and last as long but it works.  I'll carry the other battery (2 pack) for a bit and change it in about 10-14 days or so.  It will be nice to have light again. The day has turned out to be a nice day.  The yoga  session is going on now.  The proprietor of the hostel is also a licensed massage therapist and offers hikers a massage therapy session as-well.  With no scheduled dinner, I could now draft the letters that caused me to trip the other day. Around 5:30 I heard of a shuttle that was going to town for dinner since it was not going to be cooked tonight.  But Dundee said the shuttles were full.  I did not sign up since I did not know about it.  I was not hungry so it did not matter all that much to me.  But I walked over anyway just to see if there was a chance to still grab a seat.  I always like to shuttle in just because I like the experience.  Well, what an experience it turned out to be. Well I was able to get a seat.  Mouse indicated that she really had no problem not going so I grabbed her spot.  Once in the shuttle, I learned it was not really a town trip but rather a trip that involved going to a friends house for a potluck.  We stopped off at food lion for beer and anything anyone wanted to bring.  I guess it was her friend Emily's 30th birthday.  We also made a stop at their accountants office.  Well, it took about 1.5 hours to arrive to a farmhouse right out if some book.  We were greatest by their son.  Daughter was dressed in her apron doing dishes.  I wasn't sure if they were expecting two loads of hikers.  As it turned out, it will be one of the more memorable experiences of my trip.  The only bad part was that it took another hour to get back. By the time we got back it was 11:00 and I just couldn't keep my eyes open.  Didn't even brush my teeth.  Tip-toed up to my plastic mattress.  Passed out. More detail later.