Date: 2012-04-17
From: Jenny knob shelter

To: Wood's Hole Hostel
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: few clouds

.... I was going to move onto Pearisburg today which is only ten miles away... but Henry was telling me to stop here because it sounded cool... darn rubber chicken peer pressure! Ok so let's talk about a very private subject today since there is not much else to report. A subject that is very interesting and comes in many forms, shapes, locations, styles... Privies.. That's right we are going to discuss privies. Why may you ask? WHY NOT!?!?!The privies on the trail are one of a kind. They take their doodies very seriously. It is amazing at the variety of ways that they are built. I have come across some that are nice fully enclosed wood single toilet privies, some nice brick ones (those are only found at roads), and some other "special" ones. I remember back about 200 miles ago there was one that was very low cut wood that covered the toilet and that was about it, so you had to take care of everything while sitting otherwise people got a full moon when you'd stand up. The best part is it was in clear view of the shelter. Another privy I visited came with its own reading material, not a book though because that would get destroyed. Some creative person wrote out the story of "The Lorax" on the walls, what a great read. Problem was it was a little long, so I just sat there and finished reading. And then there was one that you had to hold the door closed on otherwise the campsite would get a unwanted view. But then there is the best one that I had yesterday. It gave you the natural free feeling but yet you still got a nice toilet. There was two pieces of plywood covering the front.. that was it. So I sat down, enjoying the view doing my thing.. and suddenly I hear "Should I take a picture?"... Well the AT and its good ole white blazes ran directly behind me by all of ten feet... Wonderful.. I just laughed and said sure if you really want to! I suppose that me posting this is a sign that I have lost all of my dignity, ha. Moving on... Today was a nice day, I was feeling great. I got up and going but got distracted about five miles in... FOOD! There was a market/deli about .5 mile down the road. So west I went with Hawk and Bobber. We got there and ordered lunch/dinner food at 10:00 AM. I got a double bacon cheeseburger with everything on it (about 3/4 lb) and a Philly Cheese Steak Sub (about the same 3/4 lb)... I finished that right up so I also got a bag of chips, a ice cream, a candy bar, a soda.. ahhh now I am ready to hit the trail again. Back I went with a few other new snacks in my pockets to that I bought. The trail was simply and went quickly as I was planning a 30 mile day. My feet feel better as I fine tuned my shoes. My plans fell short though when I decided to come here tonight, it just sounded so good. And it is! I got a shower and cleaned up when I got here and some fresh snacks. I had some farm raised hard boiled eggs and played fetch with the dog. Then came time to help with setting up for dinner for the group (there are ten of us tonight). I helped grate the cheese and made the homemade salad dressing, how cool! We are all pitching in to help and will all sit down together and eat as a family. I love these kinds of dinners as you really get to know people well. As I sit here on the computer, You Again, is playing on a hand made Martin Guitar and singing songs, two guys are finishing up helping in the kitchen, the rest are sitting here talking and laughing... What a great place to be. So free. They made homemade smoothies here, so I will be getting one of those after dinner. Then its off to bed and pearisburg tomorrow since I slacked off today... Darn the temptation of food. Thats all for now!