Date: 2012-05-05
From: Laurel Creek at Hwy 615

To: Licking Creek at Hwy 608
Miles today: 20.2

Checked out of Big Walker Motel and took SOS to his start point at Laurel Creek- Hwy 615. I drove on to our next stop which is Woods Hole Hostel. On the way, I had some wonderful adventures! First I went to Bland which was just a little way down the road. I went to the post office which had a wonderful bench out front. It had two large bald eagles carved into both side of the board that you sit on. ..very unique. See the picture in photos. Next I went to the library (of course?) and bought a new book for 25 cents since I am almost finished with the one I am reading..Divine Justice by David Baldacci. I rate this library a 6. I drove out of Bland and was on my way to Woods Hole which is 50 miles from Bland. About half way there I came to Natures Way which is an Amish grocery/caf©. I bought some snacks for SOS and a sandwich for my lunch. I took it outside to sit at the picnic table. There was another couple (Dean and Julie Martin who lived nearby) eating there so I asked if I could join them. We got to talking and they offered me a bottle of cold water and some homemade (by Irene, the Amish owner¢s daughter) doughnuts. I ate 12 of one and it was delicious! They reminded me of doughnuts that my mother used to make. They wanted me to take the last two to SOS when I picked him up. They said they liked to help out hikers and would give them rides and buy them food. Then they told me about another store that they wanted me to see and offered to take me there. So I got in the car with two total strangers and off we went! We drove on back narrow roads and it felt good NOT to be driving! We got to the store and it was a fun place to visit. Julie does lots of canning and bought the biggest pressure canner that I have ever seen¢¦she couldn¢t lift it so Dean had to carry it for her! It was HUGE! We drove past an Amish school, a farmer¢s market and through fields and by streams. Then they returned me to my car. It was an unexpected pleasure to be on the receiving end of trail magic¢¦a big thanks to Dean and Julie!! You made my day. On to Woods Hole with no more stops. Neville welcomed me and showed me to our room for the next 3 days. I brought some things in and rested a bit before I headed out to pick up SOS¢¦30 miles away. I picked him up and drove him back the same 30 miles¢¦a big driving day! And SOS hiked 20 miles! We ate dinner with lots of other hikers¢¦we only knew one of them but that is just a chance to make more new friends. It was an early night for us. There are no TV¢s, internet connections or other distractions here¢¦just peace and quiet in the country. The road goes from 4 lanes to narrow, dirt and rutted before arriving here so when you get here you are far away from noise and can just enjoy the lack of technology. Several people express concern when they don't see a journal every day. We do write and post every day that we are somewhere with an internet connection. We do not have one at Woods Hole so are sitting at a McDonald's in Pearisburg catching up the journal. I posted lots of new pictures so check the Photos section and then SIGN the guest book!!