Date: 2007-06-18
From: Piney River - campsite

To: Fish Hatchery Rd. - Dutch Haus Bed & Breakfast
Miles today: 4.2

I was camping alone last night and had a little wildlife encounter. At about 3am I rolled over and felt something sort of crawl on my leg. Whatever it was then crawled up my back, over my head and disappeared. I quickly turned my headlamp on and spotted the intruder. It was of course a mouse, who had chewed a small hole in the netting of my tent, and entered looking for food. I was at fault, since I got lazy last night and decided to leave my food bag in my tent rather then hang it off a tree limb. He was just doing what mice do out here, steal food from careless hikers. So after opening the tent flap, I chased him out. Well after that I got very little sleep! I stuffed a sock in the very small hole he had chewed, and tried to get back to sleep. Just as I would doze off I could hear his tiny little feet patter as he ran across the side and top of my tent. Every time he did this, I would usually scare him off after I turned on my head lamp. At one point after almost falling back to sleep, I heard him again, turned on my headlamp and freaked. I saw him in the tent again, and there was another small hole in my tent! I was mad and started chasing him all over the tent. He was frantically darting all over looking for his little escape hatch but could not find it. Afer making sure I scared him real good, I opened the tent again and let him out. I think that did the trick, because I never did hear or see him again. But of course I could not get back to sleep, and so spent some time journaling until the sun came up. At least he never did sample any of my food. Yes, I know the mileage today is pitiful and it's basicaly a NERO (not a zero day, but almost a zero). I could not resist taking some time for rest and good food at a place near the trail, called the Dutch Haus. In the guide book it is billed as a Bed & Breakfast and for a very reasonable 25.00, you can have a nice night in a comfortable bed as well as lunch and breakfast. So I was game. As I hiked towards Fish Hatchery Rd. I encountered a married thru hiker couple, Google and Sunshine, who were also heading for the Dutch Haus. We had heard there was a daily shuttle that would pick us up at 11am by the road and drive us there, so we were hiking fast to get there on time. As it turned out, we showed up on time at the wrong location and needed to walk about another 2 non-trail miles to get there. I made the right decision to come here. The Dutch Haus is a very nice log cabin style home, with additional bunk house and shower accomodations. As soon as we arrived, Lois, who owns this great place with her husband Earl, sat us down and fed us a delicious lunch. She then situated us in some very comfortable rooms. She then gave us laundry baskets to dump all our dirty clothes in, which she would wash. We then showered, donned a bathrobe, and later received our clean clothes.I spent the rest of the day, meeting a few of the other thru hikers here and simply relaxing around this special place. At one point I sat on the front porch reading in a rocking chair. There were about 4 Hummingbird feeders hanging from the edge of the porch roof, and I must have counted at least 12 Hummingbirds buzzing from one to the other, drinkIng the sugary water. I was later able to get a ride to a nearby store to buy supplies for the next 2 days hike to Waynesboro, VA. I bought something for dinner to each at a picnic table back at the Dutch Hauss, and passed up the extra cost of dinner. I sort of regretted that after seeing dinner served. I did join all for dinner though and was able to partake in dinnertime conversation.What a great time at the Dutch Haus, but it's back to the trail tomorrow.