Date: 2004-06-14
From: Damascus, VA

To: Perisburg, VA
Miles today: 130.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I made it to perisberg, VA - 622 miles. I had several 30 mile days in the past week, and i tried for a 40 but cut it off during the wind, rain, and lighning to avoid crossing a bald peak. That was on friday, and i didn't make it to town on saturday before the PO closed at noon - so i had to wait till monday morning. The library didn't open until noon, so i'm here now, and will stop at the all-you-can-eat pizza hut buffet before i leave town. That means i only hiked 10 on saturday, and 0 on sunday. 'nero' is short for near-zero, which 10 miles is for me. I'll probably do 16 this afternoon, which is a normal day for most people.The past week has been great, i've caught up with several other through hikers (who started a month before me) but it's much better than the same group of people everyday plus a few random section hikers. I even got to shelters that were full twice in the past week. At 500 miles, I had a jello no-bake strawberry cheesecake for dinner - 3250 calories in one meal. One shelter was exceptionally interesting- the Partnership Shelter. It's right near the Mt. Rogers Recreation area visitor center, so there is a payphone and you can have pizza delivered. There's also hot showers and flush toilets. I also spent a night at Woods Hole. An 80+ year old woman, Tillie Wood, has a homestead .5 mile off the trail and lets hikers stay in the barn loft (which has mattresses) for free, and cooks breakfast for $3.50.Now that i have caught up with other hikers, it is interesting to see the stories that spread among hikers. News travels very fast up and down the trail. For example, saturday night there was a 'domestic disturbance' in the house across the street from the hostel. A hiker called 911, and another, Rowboat, asked the woman that ran out if she was okay. She said her husband had a knife, so when he came out, Rowboat told him to stay still and not move. The police arrived and arrested him. We now call him Rowboat-cop. The stories that flew up and down the trail have parts about the man coming out with a shotgun, rowboat wrestling him to the ground, rowboat catching the shotgun spray in his back while he saved the kids and cat, etc. etc.I still have yet to see a bear, but i did come across several 'wild' horses - pictures coming soon - and a few more snakes. The trail is ALOT flatter in virginia than it was in NC/TN, and its supposed to get flatter. I do have a 2000 foot climb to tackle as soon as i'm done here, but then the trail follows a ridge for several miles, and doesn't go up or down more that 500 feet pk-pk.I stayed in the holy family hostel in pearisburg. It's much nicer than 'the place' in damascus, but it's about a mile from the PO and 2 miles from the trail. Its a converted barn with mattresses in the loft, and a full kitchen. The hostel was full of thru-hikers both nights i stayed. Spent saturday sleeping then spent sunday doing odds and ends like postcards and laundry. I got to the PO as soon as it opened this morning, and have been waiting for the library to open so i could delete my spam and update the site.I've got lots more to write, but i really need to get started hiking before it gets too late.