Date: 2019-03-24
From: Sugar Run Rd 

To: Clendennon and Pocahontas Rd
Miles today: 15.8

I didn't sleep as well last night I should have taken some more melatonin at 1:30 when I woke for a trip to the bathroom. But I dragged myself up when my alarm went off and got ready for the day. Today we checked out of the hostel. River asked if she could see if we could stay another night and I said no right away because I want to get to Bland. I actually have no clue what is in Bland but I know this....I have a secret. I have been talking to WE and she and Lee are going to be at the Big Walker motel in Bland but River doesn't know. I wanted to surprise her.  On the way to drop River off at the trailhead on Kimberling Creek route 606 I saw a red cardinal on the right side of the road. We also saw an Amish family in their horse drawn buggy headed out to church. After I dropped her and was driving to my trailhead at Sugar Run Rd I saw 3 more all on the same side of the road. I also saw a group of Amish men walking, not far from the location we saw the buggy, presumably walking to church. I've heard there's an Amish owned deli around here somewhere. I hope I get the chance to visit it.Not long into my hike which again was a beautiful path with rhododendron I stopped at Doc's knob shelter. I used the privy first since it was conveniently located next to the trail and I found it nice and clean with a fresh roll of TP in a Ziploc bag. As I sat I studied the 4 posters on the walls and door educating me on snakes, wildflowers, butterflies and aquatic insects. I might not actually be any more intelligent now than before my stop and I spent more time in the privy than required for my business but I did take a picture of the snake poster and I hope I don't have to refer to it. I've seen plenty of snakes and checked off that box! I had lunch at Pearis ledges and no one was around. I nearly got caught peeing after lunch when day hikers started appearing. It was a close call! I began descending and stopped briefly at Angel's Rest rock for a photo. By now I'd been passed by at least 25 hikers. When I thought the coast was clear I stopped at a rock and stripped off a shirt and my tights it was really warm today and I needed to get cooler before my upcoming climb. The rest of the hike was kind of brown and boring. Nothing notable just logging miles. Not far from my finish I spooked a groundhog and he waddled off blending in with the brown foliage that covered the area. I passed by a chemical plant and took a road walk before entering the woods again and passing a landfill. Just inside the woods I encountered my favorite kind of day hikers. 3 unleashed dogs with bad manners. One named Rocky jumped on me and when I saw a hiker up the trail by the landfill I let him know they were ahead. He didn't seem to be looking forward to the encounter either. I love dogs but there is something called trail edecit which doesn't seem to be well known. Leash your dogs when you see other people on the trail. These people had no leashes with them and even after Rocky jumped on me he continued to hike with me for several hundred yards before they could get him under verbal control.I arrived at Clendennon and Pocahontas at 5pm and seated myself on a rock beside the road. 2 minutes later a jogger crossed the road and headed up the trail as a farmer was driving by and shouted out his window checking to make sure all was well with me. Very nice of him. When River arrived we set the GPS for Bland and I secretly texted with WE to keep her posted on our ETA. I was really wanting ice cream so we stopped at a Burger King and I ran in for an Oreo shake. Yum! I continued to text WE and when we arrived and were in the lobby they came in and surprised River. It was wonderful to see them and snuggle with Romeo. We ordered pizza delivered and sat around the table in their room enjoying each other's company along with wine, beer and food. Around 9 I wandered off to bed with a full belly a light head. Life is really good and I'm so blessed for these people who have helped me with my hike. I'm looking forward to helping WE when she's in NH and Maine this summer and perhaps hike a few miles with her.