Date: 2007-06-08
From: Stealth site 5.3 miles past Doc Knobs Shelter, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 2.9
Weather: broken clouds

Well, after a short nite's sleep, I was up and headed to Pearisburg by 7:30 a.m. I like that I only have about 3 miles in, so I can utilize today to get all my chores done and tomorrow can be a "true" zero day with little if any walking around.There is a blue blaze trail that leads to a rock called Angel's Rest. I just had to go see it and all I can say is WOOOOOW!! I know it's hard to stop for sight-seeing on a town day, but seriously, don't miss this view. It was 8:00 a.m., there was a thin layer of clouds\fog hugging the valleys of the mountains, the sun was beaming bright rays, and it just looked like a painting to me. I could see a river, the town of Pearisburg, and green beautiful mountains. Simply stunning.I finally decided to head on and as usual it was a long downhill into town. I got there and knew I wanted to stay @ a motel in town, but wasn't sure which way to go. I walked into an insurance agency and asked a woman who was in line. She pointed me in the right direction, which was about 1 mile up a highway.So I started off and stuck my thumb out to test my luck. (Hey...it's only 1 mile, but it's ONE more mile! LOL). Cars kept passing me, but all of a sudden one stopped. It was the lady that I had just asked for directions from! She was from the area, and gave me a ride to the Holiday Motor Lodge. THANKS FRANCIS!!I'm stoked that it's only 9:30 a.m., so the plan was to get into a room, shower, eat, do chores and chill. I go in, and they couldn't tell me if they had vacancy or not, until 1:00 p.m.! Crap! So I sat there thinking for a moment, and remembered another place was next door, so I walked over. This is the Plaza Motel, and Linda said they had 1 room with 1 bed..PERFECT!Ok, so I have to talk this place up. First, Linda (I think the owner) was SO nice. I asked about email, because the guidebook said there was access, and she said I was more than welcome to come down and use the internet in the office anytime. Then get this, she tells me to just bring my dirty laundry down and she'll throw it in and wash my stuff in the motel laundry! I got the room for 2 nites, go up and man was this place a surprise. It's an old building, but they've remodeled, hard wood floors, nice furniture, new bathrooms. This is the Yang to the Yin of the Rodeway Inn, in Marion! LOL The location is awesome, Food Lion and Hardware store across the street and the P.O just blocks down the road.I got cleaned up, walked to the P.O. and my gear I'd ordered from Bluff Mt. Outfitters in Hot Springs had arrived. Finally, a new Frogg Togg jacket, insoles, Aqua Mira, and bear bag rope. Apparently I'm still a gearhead if this box of stuff still excites me. LOLI also pigged out @ the mexican place on beef fajitas, chips and salsa, and what I'm calling a huge serving of "heart attack waiting to happen" or the fried ice cream dessert which was a huge serving of neopolitan ice cream coated in corn flakes, smothered in chocolate syrup and served in a huge fried bowl tortilla with sugar and cinammon! Ahhh...and to eat this without worrying about growing out of my pants! LOLFinally, I resupplied, went back to my room, got all of my gear cleaned up, got my supplies packed up and have not moved the rest of the evening. It's weird though, as much as I look forward to coming into towns and returning to a presentable condition, the moment I'm finished with chores and have the time to rest, I miss being out there tremendously.I know my foot needs a rest tomorrow, but part of me just wants to get back out there. I suppose I should recognize and be grateful that my enthusiasm continues to grow. I was entertained most of the evening when my good friends Cindy and Karen called me. They are just so hilarious. Well, I have no plans to budge tomorrow. It will be difficult, but I promised my body I'd respect and listen to it. Afterall, it still has quite a job ahead of it.~Certain