Date: 2015-04-30
From: Chatfield Memorial Shelter

To: Atkins
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: light rain

After a peaceful sleep in the shelter, I packed up for the trail today and my stop in Atkins.The trail follows a rambling creek here as weaves its way in, out, and around the mountain laurel. Suddenly I heard an almost ear-splitting hum in the woods. Was it a beehive, hornets' nest, or some other swarming insects armed with lethal stingers? I cautiously left the woods to enter a meadow, where I saw the source of the hum: power lines on massive towers ran thru the meadow and crossed the trail. That was a relief! The next stop was a real treat. I stopped at the Lindamood Schoolhouse., located on the AT and VA 615. Once inside I was transported back to 1894 as the one room facility has been painstakingly preserved with a wood stove, desks that were occupied by two students, and a blackboard. I imagined and could almost here the voices of the teacher and the twenty or do students in recitation. I chuckled at the posted "offenses" and the number of lashes you could earn for committing an infraction. As I was preparing to leave, I noticed that West End United Methodist Church of Wytheville had supplied trail magic/kindness with sodas, candy, shampoo samples, and other items thru-hikers prize. Thank you for showing and sharing God's love in this way! As I stood on the front steps, I now noticed that I had a cell signal, so I checked in with my parents for a few minutes. As I ended our call, a car pulled up. The couple exited the car and we began to chat. They introduced themselves as "Rick and Carol Lindamood" from West End UM Church. I glimpsed at the "Lindamood Schoolhouse" sign over the front door. "Are you related to the person for whom the school is named?" I inquired. Rev. Rick explained that his Great-Grandfather Lindamood had taught at the schoolhouse. I thoroughly enjoyed Carol and Rick's hospitality as a brother and sister in Christ and as fellow United Methodists. I thought later in the day that what a coincidence this was as if I hadn't suddenly received a cell signal to call Mom and Dad, I would have been down the trail and missed meeting Rick and Carol. It became a bit eerie when Onward (Virginia) and Two Dhoes (Germany) stopped by as I was leaving. Two Shoes needed to make a call to Germany, but her phone was malfunctioning. I gave her mine to make the call, but there was no signal now. Coincidence? The Twilight Zone?Let's say I believe that God sponsors the "coincidence business" to utilize us for a purpose. Two Shoes was going to try to get to Blacksburg to have her phone fixed.I hiked onward meeting Chip (Pennsylvania) as we were now in Atkins. The meat, two vegetables, and butterscotch pie special at The Barn was just what this hiker needed. I walked under the I-81 underpass and turned right into the woods and beside a sizable creek. Rain clouds were gathering, so I called Susie Johnson who picked me up at the end of the field. She made lip-smacking good iced tea, pork chops, rice, and broccoli for supper. It was so good to stay with Johnny and Susie in their home and to catch up with the nes for their children Will, Jesse, and Abby, as well as their first grandchild, Emily. Your Atkins' warm hospitality was spectacular! Thank you! The only hiccup was that Beth (Mission Control) had wrapped my drop box of provisions, mailed to Johnny and Susie's home, with Tennessee orange tape. That didn't go over well in Virginia Tech Hokie country.Johnny, how did you like the Spam I left for you?Friday it is back to the trail. It is raining so I hope it eases up for some more meadow and woods walking. What a great day of trail kindness from family and new friends!