Date: 2016-07-11
From: Wood's Hole Hostel

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

I got a ride back up the road to the trail. My feet were in such bad shape that I decided I better go into Pearisburg, the next town along the trail, to get something for the blisters. The trail had a lot of small ups and downs for most of the day, until the very end when there was a 2000 foot descent into Pearisburg. Right before the descent there were a couple great views, a knob and a rock outcropping, called Angels Rest, that stood above the trees. It was a great place for humans to rest before starting the steep descent down to the valley below. On my w at down I passed quite a few day hikers on their way up to the Angels rest. It was only 2 miles to the top from the Pearisburg side, much shorter than the 9 miles I came fro. Woods Hole, but it was also much steeper. When I was within a quarter mile of the trail head on the Pearisburg urge side, there was a group of fourteen age girls just starting up the mountain, mostly wearing flip flops. They asked me if there was anything to see at the top. I explained to them the view from the top and then asked if they new how to get to Pearisburg from the road. They said they have lived here their whole loves and that I just turned right at the road. First of all, I thought,"How could you have lived here your whole lives and you have never been up to the topic the mountain,and how could you think you can climb a mountain in flip flops. But I didn't say any of that. I said, "Do you know how far it is I to town along that road." One of the girls said it was 9 miles. My heart sank. That would mean I would have to try to hitch into town. The trail book made it sound like town was very close. The one of the girls said, "There is a sign down by he road." I hiked the last quarter mile to the road and there was a sign with an arrow that said Pearisburg 0.9 miles. I wanted to hike back up and explain place-value to the girls but I turned right and walked into town.I met two middle school age boys on the road heading toward the trail. They wear walking single file, and the boy in front was carrying a large American flag. I said, " You look like a very short parade." They said they were gearing up to the top of the mountain to place the flag at Angel's Rest. I wasn't sure how they were going to plant it into the rocky surface or how long the National Forest Service would leave it there, but they were definitely on a mission. I asked if they could recommend. a good place to eat in town. I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea to ask middle school boys about restaurants, but I did. I was I in the mood for some down-home cooking. They said there us Chinese, Mexican, Dairy Queen and Hardee's, and they recommended Dairy Queen ... Which didn't surprise me as the choice of two middle school boys. None of them sounded like the down-home cooking I had in mind. I also asked if they new where the post office was. I had a few things I decided to mail home to lighten my lack a bit. They said it's right next to the Andrew Johnson house and museum in Main Street. "That's cool," I thought. "I will have time to tour the museum museum before I check into the the motel." I didn't even know Andrew Johnson was from Virginia.When I got into town, there were two motels, both right out of the 1950's, right next to each other. I chose the one with a pool. I dropped off my jack and went to the post office. On the way I passed the Andrew Johnston House and Museum. It was Andrew Johnston, not Andrew Johnson. While I was thinking of Lincoln's vice-president; this Andrew Johnston was known for being an early settler in Giles County, VA. The museum is only open three days a week, and wasn't open today. I went on to the post office and back to the motel.I have fairly low standards on acceptable motels, especially when I am hiking the trail. In the world of AT shelters, having a cold water shower is an amazing luxury, and mice are to be expected. So, while the bar for motels isn't very high, this hotel didn't make the cut. The drapes were broken and didn't close all the way. The carpet was in need of cleaning - possibly for the last several years. But there was a laundry room, so I washed out my wet clothes in the sink and dried them in the laundry room. I put on the shorts I sleep in and went into the pool, which was in the center of the parking lot. Before going into the pool I had to sign a form in the office freeing the motel of any liability for my safety in the pool. I really just wanted to start soaking my feet.For supper I chose the Chinese restaurant because it was next to a Goodwill and a Food City, and I was hoping to find a dishpan and Epsom salts for soaking my feet. I bought Epsom salts at Food City and found a pan for changing car oil for 99 cents at Goodwill. I took the oil pan and the Epsom salts into the restaurant and had an all you can eat Chinese restaurant. Then I headed back to the room to soak my feet as much as I could before going to bed.