Date: 2016-04-04
From: Sugar Run Gap - Woods Hole Hostel

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: snow

Another great day. A meal at Woods Hole Hostel is a treat not to be missed. Woods Hole Hostel is not to be missed from my perspective. Each hostel is unique and Woods Hole Hostel is a special one. It's owners, Neville & Michael, have created beautiful surroundings for all to share and enjoy. The sharing includes eating snacks or meals with them. Breakfast began with holding hands and sharing your name, home location, and expressing what you are grateful for. The exchanged grace sets the tone and the delicious food is thoroughly enjoyed as Neville explains what is being served and where it originated from. Subman told me about this special place and I'm glad he did.Fresh Ground and I hiked out leisurely since today was a somewhat short hike to Pearisburg where we intend to keep our eyelids open long enough to watch the Villanova vs. North Carolina men's basketball championship game tonight. Big Critter will be driven to Pearisburg to watch the game with us. Who-Dat intends to take one or more zero days in order to overcome the agony in his shins. Blues Brother and Rambo stayed in a shelter a few miles past me last night but will join us in Pearisburg. Hiking without the stress of a big mileage day made for a light-hearted feel to the hike. Fresh Ground and I took a packs off break and enjoyed a view of the valley at Mile 631.6. The descent down to Pearisburg seemed long as we dropped 1900 feet over almost 3 miles. We stopped counting the number of switchbacks after counting more than twenty. The weather was sunny and a great temperature for hiking. We were almost done when the day took an odd turn. I stopped and told Fresh Ground to hold up. Just a few feet in front of me was a red squirrel perched squarely in the center of the trail. It seemed that this squirrel was acting like a troll, intent to not let us pass. Fresh Ground was concerned about how strangely this squirrel was acting. Fresh Ground moved quickly off the trail to escape this squirrel's stare. I moved much slower and just took a small step to the side. The squirrel squared up on me again, looking like it was preparing to launch. I told Fresh Ground I thought I was in trouble. Honestly, I pulled my hiking poles together to defend myself. Fortunately the squirrel took up a nearby tree as I followed Fresh Ground off trail. I know, I can't even stand up to a squirrel - what will happen with a snake or a bear?The switchbacks continued and then the trail started to take us up. It didn't make sense but that's what happened. Then the day took another incredible turn. The day's hike down to Pearisburg was done but we no longer had a perspective of where Pearisburg was. So Fresh Ground called out to a woman in the parking lot, asking about Pearisburg. She pointed the direction and said she could drive us into town and then she asked "Are you Fresh Ground?" Incredible. How does this keep happening? The woman was Kid's mother, who had driven from Pennsylvania to give her thru-hiking son, Kid, some trail magic en route to a work location tomorrow. Cari, Kid's mom, then yelled up to the mountain side behind her and soon Kid was seen coming down to join us. Cari and Kid had somehow envisioned that Fresh Ground would be passing by today and Cari came with food and drink. Introductions were made. Fresh Ground had hiked out of Damascus and hiked with Kid and a couple other thru-hikers last week. People knowing who Fresh Ground is has increasingly become the norm but for it to have happened as we emerged from the woods just seemed beyond anything imaginable. But what a great time and a nice reunion for Kid and Fresh Ground.With six of us at the same motel, the mood was a bit festive. Food and drink without being exhausted feels pretty good. Last Chance and Seeker were here too. Fresh Ground created several plates of food to share. We all enjoyed each other's company.Near the end of the night Fresh Ground and I acknowledged today's laughter. I am hiking with a great group of hikers who enjoy being with each other. Nova just won. Great game and great day. We're resupplied and heading out for a few days of troublesome weather.