Date: 2011-05-01
From: Campsite north of Matts Creek shelter Mile

To: US 501, James River, Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 1.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up at about 6:30am and broke camp at about 7:30am. I was going into town for food, shower and a nice bed. I walked along the James River for about a mile then crossed the longest foot-use-only bridge on the AT. It looked like about 2 football fields long. It is dedicated to the memory of Bill Foot, a 1987 thru-hiker, trail name THE HAPPY FEET.   He worked to secure the existing piers, applied for grants and gained numerous agency cooperation to make the bridge a reality. After crossing the bridge I came to a road. I looked in the guide book and it said go right...but it didn't feel right. Luckily before I walked too far, a couple in a boat passed by me. I asked them the way to Glasgow. They said the other way about 6 miles. So I turned around and started hitch-hiking. The road was not too busy and was a winding road up into the mountains...not your ideal road to hitch-hike on. After walking about 2 miles finally someone stopped their car. I quickly ran to the vehicle said hi and thanks to the driver and through my pack and poles in the back seat. I then introduced myself to David Graham. David is a stand-up comedian specializing in clean humor. He was driving home to St. Louis after finishing a show in Lynchburg, VA. David said he is typically on the road Thursday-Sunday. He has been on Jay Leno. Check out his website. WWW.cleancomedyguy.com.   A very nice person. I hope to see a show when he gets down to Houston. He dropped me off in Glasgow and I began to look for the motel. I met a person outside his rental apartment and asked him where the Howard Family Motel and Restaurant was. He said the place closed about two years ago. My hiker guidebook happens to be two years old...note to self...get a new guidebook! I walked over to a gas station to get a sandwich and Gatorade and figure out what to do next. There were no other motels in town and the closest motel was ten miles away in Buena Vista, VA. I sat in the gas station and started trying to "yogi bear" a ride. I asked the clerk, Penny if she new of anyone...I would pay for the drive over...she said she didn't but would take me at 2:00pm when she got off...4 hours away. I said thanks and continued to strike up conversations with whoever came into the gas station and seemed approachable. I called Del the shuttle guy I used a few days ago. He gave me the number to Ken Wallace. I called him and got voice mail. Then a familiar face came into the store. He came over to where I was sitting to say hi. His name is Homer Witcher. He was a volunteer I had met briefly on Tinkers Cliffs. I told him I was looking for a shuttle into Buena Vista. He pulled out his cell phone and called his wife telling her he was going to shuttle a hiker to Buena Vista before coming home. Yeah a ride! It was another interesting ride. In 2002 Homer, his wife, daughter 11 and son 8 thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail! They were written up in a lot of Virgina newspapers and had an educational book written about their hike. The book is The Appalachian Trail by Ann Martin Bowler. We got to the Budget Inn in Buena Vista at about 11:00am. I said thanks to Homer and offered him $40...would only accept $20 for gas money. A room wasn't ready yet so I went next door and got a 12 inch Subway combo. Came back and waited in the lobby for my room. "Manny" the owner checked me in an hour later. Because I did not smell too bad and didn't as unkempt as a lot of hikers he told me he would not put me in a "hikers only room". Glad I freshened up with a baby wipe this morning! Then I did laundry and made a shopping list. The grocery store was a mile away...so I do what I do...waked to the store and back. I then started walking around town for a restaurant. All of them are closed! Back to the Subway for dinner. There is a Burger King across the street, I am going to go there for an evening snack. Spent the evening sorting through my gear and doing my journal. Also I talked to Ken Wallace the shuttle driver and he is going to pick me up at 9:30am to take me back to the trail. Just before I went to sleep...I heard US Seals got Bin Laden...great news. I had some terrific trail magic today!