Date: 2015-05-26
From: trents store

To: WoodsHole Hostel
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I so enjoyed my time off the trail with my beautiful sister in law and niece. They are both nurses and both told me my feet look pretty good. They expected them to look much worse. Terry drove me back the 2 hours to where I got off the trail to go to Trents store. I walked away and fought the urge to say Wait! Take me back to the lake! Taking more than just one day off is dangerous to my motivation. I only hiked a couple of miles until I got to the side trail to Dismal Falls. I had heard how nice this spot was and I wanted to see it. It was already afternoon when I got dropped off, so I figured I would just camp there. I was so happy to see Cheesesteak when I got there. I passed him on the trail, he was heading to Trents to buy beer. I met some new people, Cooter, Dexter, Magician, and Clown Car, just to name a few. And then Hands hiked in. I'm meeting with this old bubble from the NC/TN time of my hike because they stopped for trail days in Damascus. At this point in our hikes, most people have trimmed down and look like shaggy hikers. The young people took turns jumping from the 8 or 9 foot waterfall, into the icy water. It's nice to be young. I watched for a while, then I retreated to my tent to read and hit the sack early. In the morning, I decided to make my destination Woods Hole Hostel, only about 14 miles away. I have heard that it is a fantastic place, a sustainable living farm with a community feel. The hike was not as easy as I thought it would be (of course!) it went through beautiful woods and had a few rocky climbs and descents to deal with. It started to rain quite hard and continued for the last hour and a half. I didn't bother to put a rain jacket on, just a pack cover. The rain felt nice after the humid climbing of the morning. I was passed by every single person I camped with the night before- even though I left first. Sigh. I'm just never going to be a fast hiker.I got to the road that goes to the hostel and followed it, happy to be almost done with the day. I showed up soaking wet, but was greeted warmly. It was only about 4pm. I took a shower, had a smoothie and some tea, and fell asleep reading on the bed. Dinner was a community affair, hikers helped cook and serve it. It was made with meat and veggies produced on this little farm. Before we ate, we stood in a circle and held hands and said something we we're grateful for. In that moment, I was grateful to be in a place that was clean and comfortable, and to be guests of people who so clearly cared about our experience. The owners, Neville and Michael, are continuing a family tradition by running this place. Neville is an artist, a yogi, and a massage therapist, as well a skilled herder of hikers. She can gently encourage and teach a group of bearded boys to create a fabulous stir fry- and to serve it up to 30 or so guests- without breaking a sweat. Her husband does the heavy lifting on the farm, feeding animals, tending the garden, and more. At one point he walked up on a hill and I saw him cradling a small goat in his arms, petting it. It is nice to know that on a farm like this, the animals live a great life, even if they are destined to be food. I would love to come back to this special place and bring my daughters. They would love it!