Date: 2013-05-28
From: stream at mile 607.6

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 13.7

I crossed numerous foot bridges of all different types, some secure, some slippery, some rotting and some new looking. I get to Wapito Shelter much sooner than I was anticipating which was great. Slow n steady stopped in and we both had a snack before the next big climb. The next 3 miles were tough, super steep and hot. I kept seeing horse shoe prints and a couple piles of horse doo. I struggled up the mtn at times crying out because I thought I was at the top but wasn't. I wanted to eat lunch at what my guidebook called a view but I bot way too hungry before I reached it so I ate on a log. Slow n steady passed me and sure enough the view was just 5 mins ahead. I belt better and took some pics and went onto my next point a .1 mi. side trail to a look out tower. I came to a blocked off trail that went slightly up and the AT that went down. I knew the trail didn't go down to the tower so I dropped my pack for got my camera and went up to the blocked trail. I did come to a tower but it was a power line radio cell tower. Bailey and I walked past it to a grassy spot with a view. It looked nice but I felt cheeped out by the weird tower especially the one that said danger radio frequency to high for public exposure or something like that. I went back to my pack and had a snack. Bailey barked at a guy that passed and he turned around and tried to kick her. She was at least 8 feet away and didn't go closer than that because she's scared. Some people read differently to a dog that barks. From there it was just over 2 miles to the gravel road and .5 to the hostel but that felt like the longest 2 miles ever. I kept catching up and at one point passing the guy that had kicked at my dog. I slowed down so he could go ahead and because around the trail had been controlled burned. The earth looked odd. With the lowest dirt plants and logs and tree trunks being scorched black and above 4 inches being green. I would've stopped to take a picture but I was in a hurry to get to the Woods Hole Hostel. My guidebook called it a slice of heaven not to be missed. Once I got to the gravel road that half mile (off the AT) felt like forever. It was almost 2pm so the sun was beating down on me and Bailey. I know Bailey didn't either. Finally, I walked up the driveway and was greeted by chickens milling about. I set my pack down in the cabin area and was given a quick tour by Cozy. Outside dog (Odie) sprouts , Teaka and several others were there. Neville and Michael owned the place and said they had to spray my dog for fleas. Bailey did not like that and she was an extra $3. The bunks were upstairs which were attic stairs which Bailey hasn't quite learned how to do . I grabbed a Dr pepper from the fridge and homemade oatmeal chocolate chip bar and sat on the futon watching the chickens. I let bailey off the leach because she's been around chickens, I have chickens at home. She sniffed around the pace herding the birds slightly. She went over to sniff the pigs but it was an electric fence and it shocked her. She yelped bolted away, through the chickens and sown the driveway A guy yelled at me to put her on a leash because he thought she was chasing chickens, even though she wasn't. I still put her on a leash. She laid at my feet content to watch the world from the porch. I got another homemade oatmeal chocolate chip par and set it on the short coffee table in front of me while I got comfortable on to futon. Bailey thought it was for her and scarfed it down before I could get a no out. Argh! Dog you owe me 75 cent. The sodas, crackers homemade goodies and other snacks operated on the honor system. I sat there and journaled chatting with Cozy. I learned that instead of a home cooked meal we could help cook, they were taking us out to dinner which would be $20 that was way to much so I figured I'd be making pasta. They had ice cream cones for $2.50 and a quart sized smoothie for $6. I was really craving for a fruit so i wanted a smoothie. As soon as I decided I was ok with spending $6 on a smoothie the power went out so Neville couldn't make me a smoothie. Just before they all left for dinner. Neville said the power came back on and she could make me a smoothie if I still wanted one. Of course I did ! A few minutes later she brought our a quart jar of strawberry banana ice cream smoothie. I settled into the hammock on the porch with my dog in my lap and those first few bites/sips were so good . After that though it started melting and not tasting so good. It was making my hands cold and wet. I was trying to be content but several things about this place just irked me! I drank most of the smoothie and let Bailey lick the jar. The shower took 5 min to get and they wanted a shower to be just be 5 min. It was like a beach shower, outdoors with wooden planks and gravel on the bottom. the privy was odd and smelly to, not what I'd expect from a hostel. I got in bed around 8:30 and Cozy carried my dog up the stairs. Bailey slept on the floor til I pulled her up onto the mattress I felt bad for her laying on the wood when I was in a bed. We were told to hang our bags so I did. I didn't want hostel mice getting into my stuff. People stayed up til 10 pm downstairs talking bull.. Light s out at 10 so we turned the lights out upstairs . They came up and looked for the switch but could not find it. I would've protested if they had . I didn't sleep very well but got up at 6 like I'd planned, Cozy and I weren't eating breakfast there because it was $8. I didn't have more oatmeal so I ate crackers. Reese's and a Dr Pepper for breakfast. Luckily we got a ride from a section hiker with a truck up the half mile gravel road. We started hiking around 7:30