Date: 2015-05-06
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Woods Hole Hostel - mile 623.8
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: few clouds

After a sleepless night listening to the section hikers snoring, I set out early this morning because I had 21.7 plus 0.5 miles to get to Woods Hole Hostel where I could shower, do laundry and pick up my first mail drop from Rick. It was a nice first 6 miles with some climbs but a lot of ridge and descent down to the river and VA 608. The woodland creatures were out as I saw squirrels and Chipmunks flying in the leaves all morning. I was also the first to walk the trail this morning and got all the spider webs in the face. After crossing the suspension bridge over the river, I was crossing the road when a kind voice from the parking lot offered me a ride to Trent's Grocery a half mile down the road. I didn't need to resupply since I was hiking to my mail drop but it was nice to get an offer. I wondered momentarily if it were Warm & Toasty but then thought she knew I was going to Woods Hole. (Found out that night it was she!)A mile or so later after some super muddy trail, Crafty caught up to me so we hiked on together. There was a 0.3 mile side trail to Dismal Falls so we decided to go and enjoy the falls, get some water and soak our feet. 45 minutes later we were back on the trail. We had a lot of stream and footbridge crossings. A couple hours later we were on another 2 mile super steep climb up a ridge. It was hot!! After the falls we definitely both felt tired from yesterday's 25 miles and knowing we still had 16 miles to go. We finally made it to the view at mile 619.2. We knew we were 5 miles from Woods Hole Hostel but it seemed so far! More hot uphill and we made it to the radio tower where we took the 0.1 mile side trail for the view which was okay. 3 miles to go!! After a lot of deceiving down we found ourselves still climbing up several times. Rocky and dry. We were done but had to keep going. Finally we saw the gravel road where we turned right for the hostel. The longest 0.5 miles later and we arrived at the organic farm! Warm & Toasty was there and Neville was about to start yoga in the yard. So we joined though it was a little distracting because several dogs were running around and the small one insisted on playing with his chew toy and stick on my mat. So I was cat / cowing with a dog butt in my face. Some men were using a chain saw too. Ironically the ruckus died down while we were in savanna the final resting pose. We then took nice hot showers and it was dinner time! Neville serves communal dinners and it was delicious. There were about 16 - 17 of us. We had a nice organic salad from her garden, homemade ranch and tahini dressings, and warm homemade bread wit Amish butter. Then Mexican Lasagna (one with meat and one vegetarian!). Dessert was an ice cream cone with Amish ice cream. I don't eat butter but i tried some Amish butter on my bread and it was delicious! I devoured all my food and even had seconds on the lasagna. I was finally full but still not sickly full.After dinner Neville and I meditated for an hour on her side porch because we discovered we both had learned the Vipassana Meditation technique. The others sat around a bonfire which was initially so bright I could see the Orange glow through closed eyelids. I then sorted through my mail drop and Crafty woke up and we chatted with Warm & Toasty. It was almost midnight so we then went to bed. "ATC" - It's been a record 9 days since I last did laundry (my longest stretch by far! and one pair of my socks are stiff on the bottom. I now see how clothes can stand up by themselves. Fortunately it's only been hot and sweaty the past four days but it's enough!