Date: 2006-05-07
From: Doc's Knob Shelter

To: Pearisburg VA
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: light rain

A short hike into Pearisburg today, but cold and wet. The terraine was the same as the past few days, generally the same since the beginning of the state. I took my 55th an 56th falls, both on flat wet rocks. I'll usually take a break at the four to six mile mark, but not this morning. The rain was too cold and wind to strong on the high ridges. I needed to keep my core temperature up and kept moving. I accidentally hiked off trail again, this time about half a mile down a powerline utility road.When I got back on trail Chill Out was coming up behind me. We called back and forth to each other over the last three miles of the hike. I said I wanted hot coffee. He wanted steak and eggs. Once at the edge of town we got a ride quickly. He's a respectable looking guy with a trim gray beard. I wouldn't have got a ride that quickly on my own, especially on Sunday, unlike Chill Out. I'm not looking all that respectable these days. Thinking maybe I might splurge on a comb. Chill Out got us a ride on the second truck that passed. The driver dropped him at the first motel and took me to the hostel behind the Holy Family Catholic Church. Unlike the towns so far, Pearisburg is spread out over several miles, nothing really convenient to hikers and no central gathering spot. I saw Cupcake coming out of the pharmacy but no other hikers on the street. The hostel is two miles from the trailhead and as close to a gathering spot as it gets. Homeward, Free Fall and Hobbit were there when I arrived. Homeward and I have been crossing paths for a while but I haven't seen Hobbit since Damascus or Free Fall since way back at Standing Bear. Free Fall is doing his second zero day here. Homeward has been here for four days resting a stress facture in his foot. Nice cozy place with a large central room, kitchen and enclosed porch downstairs. The upstairs loft sleeps about twelve people. The place is very clean and kitchen well stocked with dishes, pots and pans. The shower is hot. It's much smaller than The Place in Damascus and hikers take care of it much better. Half an hour after I got in Snapper arrived dripping and cold. Hinds Feet ChouChou, Somo and Tinkerbell were also staying but were out in town. I sat on the back porch for a while with Free Fall and Homewaard. Free Fall pointed up to the ridge in the distance and traced tomorrow's hike, a steep climb, followed by a long ridge walk. He was able to estimate shelter locations by distance between powerline towers. Fog obscured the ridges. Later it disappeared under cloud cover. It all looked imposing to me and I was glad not to be up there hiking and sheltering in the rain. It played into my general moody gloom of the past week. Gray and wet and cold. The mood was lighter inside. Snapper was excited by a newly acquired skill. Women up and down the trail are learning to pee standing up. She assumed the proper Captain Morgan stance to illustrate her point. She and two others, Caboose and Centipede, designed a merit badge and want to conduct workshops.Later in the afternoon Glo Worm arrived. He's finally caught up to Snapper after she left him behind. We had a short conversation on the porch before he went in to find her. I'm zeroing here tomorrow. Cold wet hiking today and my dismal mood. I'm looking amazed at all the poeple heading back out into it, all but me and Hobbit, with awe. I shouldn't be in awe. I've faced much worse. I'm just down and depressed and don't feel like hiking. I need to clear my head now before I get down on myself and bring my hike down further.