Date: 2013-06-19
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

My cell phone date/ time is working really weird telling me the wrong date/time so I have no idea what time I got up or left the shelter but it truly doesn't matter. How cool is that! The sun got up thus so did I.We spent the entire uneventful evening last night totally alone in the shelter and slept great. Strangely though, I had dreams during the night that I had to hurry up and finish with the shelter because Sue Fregein needed it (one of our Agility instructors)!!! Have no idea where THAT came from LOL!!! I had a beautiful breakfast of HOT chocolate and HOT oatmeal (fuel is a beautiful thing), did pack-up chores and hit the trail. First off was a difficult 1500' 2 mile climb up out of the very damp Rhododendron forest tunnel to a spectacular ridgeline and view. We sat for a long time in the sun and just enjoyed it. Then we rock scrambled the remainder of the 5 miles to the hostel of which we only saw a turtle. Once again, not another single hiker anywhere.Right before we turned off the trail to head down to the hostel, there was a massive 8' high slab of rock laying at a 60 degree angle that you had to negotiate. Bandit was concerned that he had no idea what to do to get down it. I removed both our packs and I monkey climbed down first. I grabbed Bandit's harness and dragged him to the edge and as I gently lifted him down he cooperated and slid down the rock on all fours. He was not happy when I ditched him to scramble back up but relieved when I hoisted down the trekking poles and packs followed by myself. Then we reversed the entire gig and reassembled all packs into place. Whew!The hostel was .5 miles off the trail DOWN a gravel road. It was a relief to arrive early in the afternoon and have the reset of the day to work on my soggy gear. I was ecstatic to discover that I had secured not only a spot in the main house but I had the honor of staying in the only private room in the main house. I'd confirmed weeks prior that it was ok for Bandit to stay in the main house so he was most welcome to join me there. Woods Hole Hostel is not only wonderfully adorable but the owner's are very dear people, Neville and Michael. They grow much of their own food and serve up a fantastic feast for all. Woods Hole Hostel is actually a working farm with a large variety of animals most notably when you enter the yard are the chickens, ducks, and their chocolate lab. To your right is the main house which is the original homestead log cabin that has been remodeled and added onto to make a lovely and cozy abode. The guest rooms are upstairs to your right, a full and busy kitchen is located in the back with a dinning area to your left. The master bedroom is upstairs above the dinning area. There are full laundry facilities for those staying in the main house, WiFi access, hot showers, and comfortable beds. The hiker bunkhouse is your standard hiker bunkhouse with a loft and many amenities. It is located directly in front of you as you enter the front yard. There is a large fenced pasture off to the left.After saying all our hello's to our hosts and a group of women hikers, we moved into our room and I tore our packs apart, dragging all the wet soggy stuff back outside to a spacious clothes line. I was able to hang my tent, sleeping bag, rain gear, backpack, everything wet, out in the warm sun to dry. Then it was time to tackle that smelly dog's backpack - ooo, that reeks like wet dog! I dumped all the contents including ALL of Bandit's food out on a bench by the campfire ring and used a hose to clean it out and hang it as well in the sun to dry along with my boots. Then it was off to the shower for myself followed by dumping all my muddy laundry in the washer. Once dressed we headed back outside and were greeted by one of the farm helpers Steve who was asking what all the ziplock bags were about that the chickens and farm dog were pawing through in the yard!!!! ROFL That's Bandit's now empty FOOD BAGS!!! He lost all his food to the hostel chicken's and dog. It was hilarious because the dog and chickens worked together to steal it! Ah, yes, my fault Bandit! Sorry. Bandit was pleased to discover that the dogs get to lick the left overs out of the cooking pots and managed to be the only dog present when the pots were put down!!! SCORE! I think Bandit likes this place!!!Here at the hostel tonight for dinner is Navigator, Mama Bear, Robe, Lucky, Peggy (who is just returning to the trail after having left it due to illness), and a tall young man whom I can't recall his trail name. Both he and Lucky are through hiking all the way to Maine. The other hiker's were a group of four woman, Mother, 2 daughter's, and the Mother's friend Peggy. They were hopscotch hiking different sections of the AT having never hiked before and just enjoying several sections. They'd been at Woods for several days now waiting for Peggy to return. Tonight was Peggy's 1st night back since returning to Ohio to get well. Our hosts were Neville, Michael, and Steve. Again I saw NO other hikers on the trail today. A whopping 48 hours totally on the trail all alone. Lucky and the other male hiker described the same empty bubble phenomenon as well both having slept solo lately. We now understand there is a big bubble of hikers behind us.