Date: 2012-05-07
From: Wood's hole

To: Clenndening Road - Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

SOS Here.Left Wood's Hole at 7:30 AM and hiked to Pearisburg VA. I thought about the magnificent seven (Trail Boss, Pitchit, WW Wise, Boots, Noisy Rod, Buck & Pilgrim) as I hiked. The magnificent seven are encouraging Trail Mama and I every step of the way. This stretch of the trail between Wood's Hole and Pearisburg, VA was a rehike of the end of my first successful section hike in October 2010. I remember the steep climb down the mountain into Pearisburg, VA and passing up Angel's Rest just before the descent. I remember thinking how glad I was hiking North and not South on this portion of the AT; I had the same sentiments this time. The only difference this time is I did not pass up Angel's Rest - it was not far off the trail and it had a panoramic view of the valley. Angel's Rest was awash with color. The rhodedendrons were in bloom as they were all along this stretch of the trail.As I passed the finish line of our 2010 section hike I remember Trail Boss and WW Wise running out of the woods as if they had been running the whole stretch. I tore off the wrapper of a Snickers Bar and devoured it.I ate one in their honor and the rest of my hiking buddies. How sweet it tasted and I smiled.I still had 2 miles to hike to my pickup point with Trail Mama. This time I hiked in the protected area of the four lane highway and went under the bridge instead of hiking across four lanes of traffic. As Boots will attest,, if he remembers, it is difficult to follow the trail in this last stretch. It was difficult again and had trouble locating Trail Mama and I's rendezvous point. Thanks to cell phones I was able to locate her and as always she was where she was supposed to be. God is good! She always greets me with open arms and her incredible signature smile. Trail Mama is one of the few who can also smile with her eyes. I love that about her. Trail Mama here: I rested today at Woods Hole for the morning. 3 hikers, Roadside, Maxsis and GQ all wanted a ride to Pearisburg so we left about 11:30 and headed there. They commented on how strange it feels to ride in a car after hiking for days. We all went to the post office where "the kids" picked up a large box from home and Roadside got a ride to the trail head. The kids and I went on down the road and I dropped them at the DQ. I went to the library which is located in a former church. They are trying but need to be a little more friendly...no one spoke to me..just looked at me and didn't say anything..so they get a 6! After reading a bit, I left to find the trail and SOS. This spot was not marked with a sign but did have a white broken line all the way across the road from the blazes on one side to the blazes on the other. SOS called and said,"where are you"? To which I replied, I am where I am supposed to be...where are you???? We could both see the same huge yellow caterpillars but he was high up on the mountain near the wrong road...so I waited another 20 minutes for him to come down in the right spot!! He did and then we went in search of the Farm Bureau. Michael had sent his electric fence charger, that had been destroyed in the hail/heavy rain/lightning storm, for me to return for him and pick up the new one. We went to the wrong place...it said Farm Bureau...but it had moved across the highway and down a bit. So we got there and got the exchange done and then went back to pick up "the kids"...at the DQ. Back we all went to Woods Hole. Neville and Michael decided not to cook tonight so invited those who wanted to go out to get in their car and ours...11 of us in all. Off we went on the usual winding roads...for 30 miles to Eggleston...a small town with nothing much BUT this restaurant. It wasn't busy on a Monday night but the service was super slow and we didn't get our delicious food until after 8pm. We sat and talked for a long time. Snaggle Tooth read his email and was thrilled to find out that he has been accepted to do his master's degree at U of C in Denver. We all congratulated him...I personally loved the fact that he immediately leaped up to CALL HIS MOM!! (My kind of kid!) Back in the dark this time on the 30 miles of winding roads. We got back safe and sound and went to bed. Note to Roger & Sandy...sorry we missed you on Saturday. We loved the time spent with you both and will see you in New Hampshire! Note to nephew Doug...thanks for the note..sorry you were exhausted crossing the parking lot...come hike and we will show you what exhausted looks like!! We look forward everyday to our messages...wish we could reply to them all. We are committed to updating this journal everyday that we have access to the internet. Today we are in a coffee shop on our zero day so have a good fast connection! Yeah!!