Date: 2015-06-06
From: Punchbowl Shelter 

To: US 60/ Three Springs Hostel 
Miles today: 11.3

Terrain today is very nice so hiking should be fast. Fast for me these days is about 2 miles per hour. We stayed down low or just along hillside contours all day. Absolutely beautiful streams and moving water. For a couple of miles the AT skirted along a reservoir complete with large dam, boats and fishermen. Still too high above to actually see detail but nice view through the trees. At one point an information sign and bench to sit on (very unusual on the AT so far) told about a small community once here occupied by decedent's of freed slaves. Dismantled when the forest service purchased the property in the 1920's one can still make out remains of buildings and fences in the forest.The target today is US 60, a major road and where phone service would be available for connecting with the hostel. Approaching I could hear traffic for about 30 minutes before ever seeing the road.Interesting is that this same US 60 also is Frankfort Avenue in Louisville going through the Crescent Hill neighborhood where I grew up. Upon arrival I called Three Springs Hostel and would have to wait only about 30 minutes for pickup. A free service they provide from this location. Having been without phone service for several days I took the opportunity to try a few calls while I waited. At Three Springs there would be no cell service but the price includes the use of the house phone for long distance calls.Oma, owner/operator of Three Springs arrived and I was off to a much needed rest, shower (never have needed or wanted one worse) and laundry. Those wet socks from two days ago were nasty, nasty, nasty. Actually in Waynesboro a day or two from now they will be replaced. Oma really has a nice business model for this hostel. Very hiker friendly because her passion is helping hikers. Just two years in business. She moved to these mountains from the Virginia tidewater specifically to open a hostel. The single price includes shower, laundry, fantastic dinners and breakfast, very comfortable accommodations as only 6 are here at a time, and the aforementioned phone service.After the long awaited shower I tossed my very dirty, stinky clothes into the washing machine. That felt good. Next was drying the rest of my gear. Dinner tonight will be grilled burgers, salad, potato salad, tea, and for dessert, brownies and ice cream. Oma baked the brownies this afternoon soon after I arrived. The smell of baking brownies was almost overwhelming. Mmm!Dinner was at 7. Afterwards plans were made for tomorrow morning's shuttles. Some of use were slack packing, others just getting back to trailheads where we had come in. Upon counsel with two new friends, Ben Jolly and Doc 13 and with assistance from Oma, I decided to do my first slack pack heading south. This accommodated both me and Uncle D. We would be taken north to Spy Rock. Uncle D would hike north from where he stopped today and I will hike south back to US 60. For me it would be a 17 mile day...doable with only the necessary things in a small and borrowed pack.Excited for tomorrow to see how I manage a long day without my full pack.Blessings,