Date: 2014-05-17
From: Trent's Store --Va. 606 West

To: Woods Hole Hostel - Sugar Run Gap VA 663
Miles today: 14.9

After showering and washing clothes I joined the group at the camp circle. No fire, just warm conversation. Staying for the night were Opus, the Rum Sisters, Carman SanDiego, and Waitup. We chatted about backpacking experiences then went to our tents around hiker-midnight.Whenever I woke up during the night at Trent's Grocery campground, I just listened to the sound of the creek running and went right back to sleep. The breakfast at the store consisted of scrambled eggs, toast, egg-biscuit and tenderloin, plus lots of coffee. After breakfast I took my time packing up my tent so everything could dry out as much as possible from the damp ground and heavy fog of the morning.After I got the backpack loaded, I went back to the store to have another cup of coffee and plan my strategy for the day. I wanted to make it to Holy Family Hostel 25 miles away, but realized it would be too much for today.I just sat down with the AWOL guidebook when Opus came back in the store and said the lady at the gas pump would take my pack to Woods Hole Hostel and I could slack pack there. I grabbed my fanny pack, filled it with snacks and a quart of milk for hydration, then threw the backpack in bed of the pickup. Turns out the lady was the owner (Miss Neville) of Woods Hole Hostel. She also informed me if I made by it by five I could go with them to a potluck dinner. I managed the 21 or so miles in 5.5 hours with an hour to spare. I enjoyed the chance to do some trail running/speed hiking. The trail went for quite a distance through a hemlock forest alongside swiftly flowing creeks with occasional cascades. The trail was following an old road bed with minor elevation gain but with a lot of roots in the trail from the hemlocks. I made good time until I reached the mountain and from there on it was slow going due to long steps to climb and then for the last few miles a lot of rocks to pass through and over. It was a good day to slack pack due to the mountain crossing. There was a good view from the rocky outcropping on top of the ridge with views of the valley as well as distant ridges.Woods Hole farm has goats, chickens, cattle and chickens, all free ranging.The potluck was at a friend's house in honor of someone's birthday. They have a large house but the get together was in the yard that had a large pavilion for cooking, dishwashing, and sitting. Since the evening was cool, the focal point of a lot of conversations was a 10 foot wide fire pit with a warm fire and plenty of wood ready to throw on and keep going. The man makes banjos but also has a blacksmith shop and his wife is the bookkeeper but with an elaborate bartering system in the mountain community.Feather, a southbound hiker from the hostel, went with us and I got better acquainted with him at the fireside. He is an older fellow from Richmond, VA, who is hiking now before some progressive physical limitations prevent him from continuing. He states he had discovered he is much more at peace when walking in the forest and it has improved his frame of mind tremendously. With his illness, he can't go to bed at night with the thought that tomorrow will be a better day, because it probably will not. However, as he talked about his hike, his stay at Woods Hole and the joy of the community gathering, he asserted, "Life is good!" I had an opportunity to meet Steve, a man about my age that had made this valley his home after moving out of the DC area. He gave me a preview of what to expect in the beauty of the trail north of here. Most of the others were younger folks. Eventually, a lady brought out her banjo and a man his guitar and started tuning up and before long were joined by three fiddlers. Soon they provided us with some Old Time Mountain music and songs. One of my hopes from the hike was to listen in on an old fashioned jam session. Secondly, when I travel I like to meet the people of a given area and get a touch of the flavor of the culture unique to the area. I always find a commonality with others but find unique aspects that are interesting. The serendipity of all that has occurred today is awesome. I had hoped to get to Holy Family Hostel because there was mention of a church in the house but this Saturday night has provided me a spiritual experience by lifting my spirits and by the love of people I met for the first time. Many I will never forget.I would like to say more about the home and bunkhouse but just suffice to say it was made of chestnut logs. Perhaps more info will be available on website.