Date: 2014-05-04
From: Ridge line at Mile 616

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

I was last out of the gate this morning. Woke up to hear a voice I recognized talking to Mike - it was Problem Bear who had departed early morning from Wapiti Shelter to hike alone and through the waking woods; he has made the case that this is a great time to be hiking not only for what you see and hear in the woods but to beat the heat. We will likely start hiking earlier based on this sound advice.Wet Dog also walked by on his way to Woods Hole Hostel, a highly acclaimed stop on the AT. Problem Bear, WetDog and Jo are all breaking off to go there - Mike and I will push on to Pearisburg to take advantage of a zero day there to recharge our batteries.At Docs Knob Shelter, we stop for water and a lunch (I am famished and seem to be hungry a lot more often now even though I am eating regularly throughout the day). In rolls Problem Bear who has decided to continue to Pearisburg and will walk with us for the rest of the day (his and Mike's discussion of the trail and eclectic book readings was fun to listen to); also into the shelter rolls Penguin Boy, Moneymaker and another guy. They are all pumped and enjoying making their way today. Farther along we run into Hoss, a guy from Iowa (as is Problem Bear originally) and we have a good conversation about how Hoss got to be on the trail (a trained journeyman, visiting friends in Tennessee, he heard about the AT and thought that would be cool to do so started a few weeks later). Today, Hoss is hiking south having caught a shuttle north and covering the trail in reverse - he carries very little in his pack since most of it is still at the origination point - what we call slack packing - and he is happy about the lack of weight on his pack and the nice day to hike. His enthusiasm is a good boost to our spirits.Before we know it, we are descending the ridgeline into Pearisburg - these nice flowers and the lower forest greet our approach - and all of a sudden we are on the road just out of town. A steep climb with cars racing by and, as if by miracle, a Dairy Queen makes its appearance. Mike, Problem Bear and I troop in and order some new Strawberry Banana frozen drink that, over the next 20 minutes, gives me brain freezes every minute. But I do not give up and am able to finish it despite what it is doing to my head. Nothing if not sheer willpower to see this drink through.We are able to get the last room at the Holiday Motor Lodge, and while not luxurious (see photos), meets the requirements of a thru hiker: it is not our tent, we are indoors, there is a washing machine down the hall, the shower works and has hot water and there is a DQ and Mexican restaurant within 300'. It just doesn't get any better than this.Kim has found a guy on TrailJournals named Gray Ghost who is from her mother's town in Dallas, GA. She signed on to his guestbook and said he might run into me in Pearisburg. It is no surprise then that is about 10 doors down from us and we run into each other at the motel. We all get together for a nice Mexican dinner (please keep both the chips and the margaritas coming miss) with some great discussions about the various personalities on the AT and how it is we all ended up here. Back to the hotel and down for the night - Mike, Problem Bear and I in the room (yes, I figured you might have a question on that, 2 double beds with Mike graciously agreeing to sleep on his air mattress on the floor).A good day.