Date: 2012-05-04
From: Virginia 625 (gravel road)

To: Laurel Creek at Hwy 615
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was moving day again! We met Roger and Sandy in the breakfast room and the room was full of several hikers that we knew...Maxsis and GQ, Slingshotand Frenchie and several others. SOS and I started on the long drive to the start spot. It was late by the time we got there and SOS had miles to go before nightfall. I drove on to new territory and found a place to stay in Bland called the Big Walker Hotel. It is a Mom and Pop place with a fantastic view...it sits up on a hill. I called Sandy to see where she was and found out she was in Wytheville so that is where I headed...about 13 miles down the interstate and through a very long tunnel. When I arrived I went straight to the visitors center and Sandy met me there. When we were discussing what we were going to do today at breakfast, Sandy said "well we can meet somewhere later". I said, "remember me? I had to call you and ask which way to turn out of the driveway to pick up SOS yesterday!" We both laughed...we laugh a lot...so Sandy said, "Just get to town and I will come and find you!",,,and she did! We went to the yarn shop first and then to lunch at "the" place in town which is very similar to the Coney Island Hot Dog place in Fort Wayne,IN.Right next door was the building which housed the museum of Edith Wilson, who was the second wife of Woodrow Wilson. She was born in Wytheville. The museum had lots of interesting things to see and read. We left there and went to the library...a 7 on my scale. After reading a little while, we went back to my car and both of us returned to our hotels. I will miss having someone to do things with when Sandy and Roger return to New Hampshire on Saturday. Thanks for all the time together, Sandy! I read and knitted until time to pick up SOS...he thought he would be done at 7:30. I made one wrong turn but a nice lady stopped and told me exactly where the trail crossed...back a gravel narrow road where I found a beautiful new looking bridge across a stream with small little waterfalls. I settled in to read and here came SOS at 8:00. Back at the room, we ate dinner and planned for tomorrow. It would be great to hear from some of our Good Shepherd family. A testamonial for Shari Mardin's prayer bracelets: I have worn mine without removing it once for 56 straight days. I can attest to the fact that it is very durable, waterproof, and prayer activated! Thanks again, Shari! Keep up the good ministry with your helpers.SOS here.Received excellent advise from Slingshot, Frenchie, Maxsis and GQ to not hike South to North today. They all told me the climb would be brutal. So, TM and I went back to yesterdays start point and I hike North.I got off to a late start and would finish just about sunset. Reacquainted myself with F100 (named not after the plane but the truck)and Steady. I forgot I had met them late March. They were sitting on the ridge and enjoying the view. It was a 360 view. They both shared how difficult it is to hike together because of different paces. Steady usually leaves first and than F100 because his pace is much faster than hers. A group of three was expressing their problems of staying together because they wanted to hike a different number of miles per day. Hopefully they will resolve those differences.