Date: 2014-04-27
From: Campsite at 600.6

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: clear sky

Day 46- April 27, Campsite 600.6 to Woods Hole Hostel, 20.3 miles. For the first time on the trail, we were awakened by a rooster at 6 this morning! We were camped close to a road and when we hiked out this morning we saw that there was a house not far down the road where the rooster must live. So he got us up and moving right on time. Our destination was the Woods Hole Hostel, just over 20 miles away. As usual, our day started with a good uphill climb where we traversed a ridge line for a bit. We enjoyed the rural Virginia landscape to the east and west of the ridge. After dropping down a bit we then had a stretch of 6 miles that was mostly level walking! Boy, were we flying. A good chunk of those 6 miles followed a stream and the trail was cut into the rhododendron bushes which made for cool walking! Lunch was at the Wapati Shelter where we were able to sit out of the sun while we ate and use a first rate privy (sorry, no photo of this one). Once we left the shelter we filled our water bottles at the last stream crossing and started our longest and steepest climb of the day. This is also when the rocks returned. Suddenly we were not cruising along anymore! We did get a couple of great views down into the valley once we reached the ridge line. The down hill miles to this hostel were very rocky and slow going. We did see a white-tailed deer this afternoon, which brings our deer total to 6. This hostel has been serving AT hikers since 1986 and is now run by the granddaughter of the original owner and her partner. This place has an excellent reputation on the trail and it is easy to see why. They offer some indoor, private rooms (where we are) and a bunk house that sleeps 18. Neville and Michael (current owners) offer a communal dinner and breakfast which is based on a local and organic belief. Also, guests are asked to help with the prep and clean up of the meals which we willingly did. We helped make the lasagna and Neville added homemade tomato soup and bread to the meal. Dessert was homemade black raspberry ice cream cones. We shared the meal with Neville, Michael and 12 other hikers. We knew the 3 other thru-hikers but the rest were section hikers at various points in their hikes. It was a fun meal and now we are looking forward to breakfast-creme br»l©e French toast! It felt great to take a hot shower and get cleaned up this afternoon after 4 warmer days of hiking. The hot water at this hostel is heated in a wood-fired boiler! Tomorrow we have a short day to Pearisburg where we will be picking up a resupply box from our Trail Jeannie. We thought we would spend the night in Pearisburg but apparently there is quite a bit of construction going on in Pearisburg and all the motel rooms are booked to the construction workers on the weeknights! Neville recommended a place in a nearby town and I got the last room when I called today. The owner of that place will pick us up where the trail hits the main road in Pearisburg, take us to the post office to get our box and then back to his inn. Tuesday morning he will shuttle us back to the trail. Rain is in the forecast for the next three days so it will be good to be inside tomorrow night. All is well.