Date: 2012-05-27
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Holiday Motor Lodge in Pearisburg
Miles today: 10.4

I stayed for breakfast again at Woods Hole. The girls and Baxter rolled out early. They missed out. Biscuits and gravy, cinnamon rice, veggie scrambled eggs, and plums. Sunshine must be an ingredient in the food. And love. The coffee was delicious too today. This gives some of my favorite Mission coffee houses a serious run for their money. I spent much time talking on the porch with various hikers including the Troverts (In and Ex) and Flapjack. I had volunteered to help clean up after breakfast but forgot due to the combined efforts of great coffee, a sunny porch swing, and fun conversation. I rushed in at the end but had clearly placed additional burden on other people. Everybody seemed ok but I don't like to be in that position. I eventually settled up and Michael and Nevel got down to the business of running their business. It was nice to see them able to transition from social to work mode and still treat every hiker like a human. I had this desire to give them both a hug but they were working and left them to it. I saw Semplesee walk up mid-morning and we talked for a bit. I left Woods Hole right around 11:00am. I found some Early Times trail magic a few minutes out but decided it wasn't really a whiskey moment for me. I hiked on and met Dash, who was with a group of six section hikers, all in different hammocks. I then ran into Idon'tknow and the three of us talked for a bit at this odd three-way crossroads. I was headed north on the AT, Idon'tknow was headed south and Dash was going into the shelter. I hiked up to a long, partially exposed ridgeline full of poplar and maple. I had good service so I did some more gear research. I know there are pounds I can lose off of this pack and need to lose some more weight if my feet are ever going to heal. I enjoyed some big views out into the long green valley and ran into Semplesee at one of the overlooks. He took my photo for me and hiked for a spell. The heat of the day was setting in and I knew I needed to get water at the next possible source. A spring was coming up but it was 0.2 off of the trail. I bid Semplesee farewell and hoped to see him again. He has a lot on his mind out here and I can see a lot of depth in his statements. A frog at the spring startled me as he made a daring leap from a rock into the middle of this tiny half-meter wide pool. The frog also startled a salamander which took off for the safety of the rocks. I walked back up to the trail and sat down on a log to ponder a few things that needed to be thought about while I had the quiet forest to myself. This was short-lived as the Troverts cruised past me but I quickly got back into my head until I was satisfied and ready to move on. I noticed my bag was all wet. It seems that my Geigerrig water bladder was leaking. I have thought that might have been the case in the past but now it was daylight, it was full of water, and visibly leaking. Town was just ahead so I knew I could replace it but it's annoying to not have confidence in your gear. I hiked on and came across a big snake cruising down the trail. I asked if she was headed to Maine right as two cute day hiker girls walked up. They invited me out to Angels Crest for a few beers. I happily joined them and enjoyed the wind chimes jingling in the afternoon breeze. I knew the girls and Baxter were up ahead somewhere so I said my goodbyes and thanked them for the drinks and conversation. I came down the hill toward Pearisburg greeted by chainsaws blaring. The trail comes right out into town and there were two guys cutting down acres of brush and trees. One of them smiled at me when I waved and I realized he had no front teeth. It was a shock to see such happiness in the absence of teeth. I smiled back and wished we had better healthcare in this country. It was a half-mile walk into town and I figured I would just walk it. The back of any pick-up truck would be a hot ride but I wasn't willing to risk the second-degree burns and walked along the highway littered with trash. I passed the Dairy Queen and came up to the Holiday Motor Lodge where Anna and PMo had checked into. The place had a pool and was adjacent to a Mexican restaurant. These were good things. As I walked in and talked to the girls for a bit, I realized that Anna must have started drinking already. I accused them both of being drunk to hide the fact that I was a little sauced myself. They both went on the defensive until PMo figured it out. Now that the cat was out of the bag, I got a shower, and we made plans to go to the Mexican restaurant for margaritas. The only issue was Baxter. He was having some severe separation anxiety from PMo and she was stressed he was going to bark his head off the whole time we were gone. We set up some tests and sure enough, he barked for all of the minutes that we stood outside to listen. We eventually talked to our neighbors (who appear to live at the motel) and they said they didn't mind one bit if Baxter was loud and that we should go enjoy ourselves. PMo deliberated. It was tough on her. We eventually walked down there and ran into Semplesee at the bar. We ordered a ton of margaritas after it took more than half an hour to order the first round. Cervasas came next. Tequila shots soon followed. Semplesee and I challenged PMo and Anna to a friendly game of billiards. I told him to go easy on them more loudly than necessary. Despite my extreme confidence, we got our butts handed to us. PMo must have spent some time in a pool hall recently. We had zero chance from the start. I believe we may have had three shots between us after the break before the girls sunk the 8-ball. More hikers showed up including EZ Nomad, Animal, Gravy, and Dimples. The party was soon in full-swing. We shut the place down. Somehow, the 14-ball ended up in the womens restroom. Somehow, it ended up in the toilet. I am still unlcear as to exactly how this happened. PMo had left earlier to check on Baxter and I ordered some enchiladas for the road. We got a few beers at the gas station and I ate at the pool while many a drunk hiker stripped down and jumped into the pool to cool off from the hot night. We apparently have no shame. I grabbed as many articles of clothing as I could recognize as belonging to our group and went back to the motel to fall happily asleep.