Date: 2003-06-30
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Best Western at Valley View, Roanoke, VA
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up early this morning (5am) feeling sad again about leaving the Trail. I still think it¢s the right decision, but the northward pull is strong. I¢ll be back.It strikes me that at the moment I feel more sad about this than about my grandpa. Perhaps it¢s the distance, and knowing it was coming dulls the impact of his impending death. Once I get there and am surrounded by it and my family I¢m sure that will overshadow leaving the Trail!An enormous thank-you to the staff at the Mt. Rogers NRA Visitors Center. It seemed this morning that almost every staff member offered me their help in one way or another! Outstanding service and compassion.In addition, I ¢happened¢ to meet two Trail Angels last night, who ¢happened¢ to be up walking around the shelter. John and Becky offered to shuttle me, put me up for the night, or just generally help any way they could. I called John this morning to thank him again and let him know that Helen from the Visitors Center had offered to drive me to the bus, which I¢d take from Marion to Roanoke to catch a plane there out West. I told him I was set for this trip, but I¢d probably call when I needed a ride back to the Trail in a week or so. He was so eager to help, inviting me to lunch, that I couldn¢t resist.So here I am at their lovely home in the quaint little town of Marion, VA. I like Marion already; hope to come back and explore it some more someday. The streets are lined with little brick houses, porch swings on front porches with hanging ferns or flowers. In fact I¢m sitting on one now as Becky makes us lunch, listening to the birds chirping, the neighbor weed eating, and the distant roar of the interstate I see a couple of miles away over the hills.We ate grilled cheese sandwiches and watermelon, then John drove me over to the bus ¢station¢. Not even a station, it¢s located inside an air-conditioning dealer or something like that. John was right ¢ I could have hung out at their house a little longer, but the agent on the phone had said to be there early, and not knowing just what to expect, I was more comfortable safe than sorry! As it was I had time to buy my ticket, run around the corner to Food City to use the bathroom and buy some deodorant and ice cream (two of a hiker¢s town essentials), and chit-chat with the only other passenger. The bus was about a half-hour late.Once it arrived I made my way to a seat near the back, and promptly fell asleep once we got going. At our first stop, a couple of guys and I struck up a conversation that resulted in a game of tic tac toe and the dot game, which entertained us until I got off in Roanoke. James is a Marine on his way back from a leave, Brandon and I believe his sister Danielle on their way to Boston from school in Nashville. Both were Mississippi boys. They had been on the bus for over 24 hours!!! That¢s insane ¢ I thought three hours would be bad. Anyway they made the time go fast ¢ thanks you guys!In Roanoke I caught a cab with a very kind driver to a hotel ¢ a few, actually, to compare rates. I settled on the Best Western, where the clerk significantly reduced my rate after asking about the reason for my visit. Thank you again, God!I watched a little TV and cooked myself some dinner. It¢s strange to cook on a camp stove indoors! Made a couple of phone calls, then went for a walk.Don¢t worry Mom, seven weeks in the wilderness haven¢t taken the Thomsen girl out of me! I headed for the mall a short distance away. Hit all my favorite stores and bought myself something to wear to the funeral. Like Anne said as we pulled out of the rental car place in Erwin, I felt the Trail experience slowly slipping away¢¦Once back to the hotel I organized things and packed up for morning, then took a soak in the tub. This is my third shower in two days, and I¢m sure I¢ll take another one in the morning. Feels so good to be clean and smell good!Finally turned the light off at nearly 12 after talking to Matt and watching I Dream of Jeannie re-runs.