Date: 2005-05-22
From: Woodshole Hostel

To: Holy Family Hostel - Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

It got cold last night! Unexpectedly cold. I guess we had gotten used to waking up with it being a little warmer lately. At 7:30 Tillie rang the breakfast bell and we all trooped into her house. We were treated to coffee, biscuts, and sausage as well as pleasant conversation. After breakfast she took a polaroid of all of us to stick in her guest book, which we all signed. Then we headed off to pack up. Scholar was out first and I followed shortly thereafter. Woodshole is .5 miles from the trail and when I got to the top of the road there was a group of people sitting around eating. Trail Magic breakfast! It being an hour since breakfast I decided it ws time for second breakfast. Boots and Bluelight were there. They had been hiking with family for a few days so they had been taking it slow. Serenity was also there but she said Free had gotten an early start and must have passed by before they got there. I am going to have to check Free for a fever. She has to be a bit delirious because early start is not in her vocabulary! After a nice breakfast of french toast, bacon, and sausage Scholar and Serenity headed out followed by Boots and Bluelight. By now the rest of the crew had trickled up and they too were having second breakfast. I shouldered the pack and said I would either see them at Angel's Rest or in Pearisburg. It was another wonderful morning and I eventually came upon Free having a snack. She had not seen Scholar or Serenity so they must have stopped at another viewpoint for a break. Free and I headed out toward Angel's Rest. From there you get a real good vista of the Pearisburg valley. It was good to hike with Free again. We spent a lot of time together at Trail Days and Hard-Core and we have become able to read each other pretty well. Not to mention I can get away with a lot more teasing than most! We sat at Angel's Rest for awhile but decided to push into Pearisburg on the off chance the library would be open. Off we went for the last 2 miles. On the way down the mountain we ran into Christine, from the Konnarack crew. Her group had just opened new section of trail and we were one of the first to walk it. We talked and told her we were still planning on trying to meet up with her in mid June to do a couple of days work, depending on if we can coordinate things. We made it into town and caught a ride to the hostel. The library was closed so it was shower time and then to the store to begin the resupply. Tomorrow will be library, post office, and laundry before heading out. By early evening everyone else was in town and among them was Stilts. He had been a day or so behind us ever since Hard-Core. He said the Spruces, Domino, Ms. Mileage, and Piker would probably roll in tomorrow. Next big stop will be the Daleville/Troutville area which we should hit next Sunday or so. Lots of good stuff coming up this week including Dragon's Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs. By the way, the travelling   recreation department added an item today. Free and I found the Nerf football we had wanted to pick up. We now have the football, a frisbee, deck of cards, and dice. There is mention of a whiffle ball and bat but not till later. Sunshine and I broke in the football by tossing it around that evening. The "toys" give us something to do when we get to our destination early.