Date: 2013-06-12
From: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro, VA, Quality Inn

To: Grace Hiker Hostel, Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0

So today is Day 1 of 4 Zero days I plan to take. Hopefully the knee will pull itself together by the end of it.It was a quiet, peaceful night in the room with the guys. No snoring, no farting, no lewd jokes. And they behaved themselves, too. I got up early and went to check out breakfast in the lobby of the hotel. I was greeted by Bus, Fossil Phoenix and Raven. I thought them to be long gone. I'm starting to realize that we all seem to think the others to be way ahead of us, but we're never really that far apart. That makes me feel a little better. They were headed out and wished me well. Back in the room, we packed up and while trying to decide if we wanted to splurge for another night. Word was that a bad storm was coming, lots of rain and wind. We all dreaded both. The guys were sticking around town for another day in order to go Aguablazing (renting a canoe and paddling to Harper's Ferry rather than hike the miles). They offered for me to join them, which I seriously considered, but I really want to rest my knee. So instead, I graciously declined and headed to the pool. The Quality Inn in Waynesboro leaves much to be desired, but they have a great pool which I fully intended to take advantage of. I got down to the pool and slipped off my town dress. Again, I found myself in a public place roaming around in my underwear. In my normal life, you'd be hard pressed to catch me in a bikini, much less a bikini without a cover-up, and yet here I am standing in my bra and underwear dipping dead bugs out of the hotel pool with Waynesboro traffic passing by in both directions not 10 feet away. I wondered if my self-consciousness and modesty would return once this social experiment is over. I think it will. But today I dip bugs, swim, layout, swim some more in the presence of the good people of Virginia with no sense of shame or apprehension. Breeze and I decided that we would take advantage of the free camping across town while Wind and Cheese would retain the hotel room for the night. We headed to the YMCA and signed in, and then went in search of our evening's abode. It was a large grassy area with a few trees, a port-o-potty (can't be just shittin' on the town lawn), a couple of garbage cans and a picnic table. I set up my tent in a slice of shade. It was already hot and humid. I wasn't thrilled, but I knew I needed so save some money if I was going to be in town for the next four days. There's just something about being in civilization; it's damn near impossible to keep your money in your wallet when there is a cash register within a 2 mile radius. I said good-bye to Breeze and headed to the Green Leaf Grill for lunch. Waynesboro is a pretty spread out town, so I wasn't sure how much rest my knee was going to get having to walk everywhere. Anywho, I gorged myself of shrimp-stuffed hush-puppies and a giant salad topped with fried oysters enjoyed alongside a local fermented cider. It was all so good, but I had cankles when I stood up. I've been amazed by how fast my feet swell up when I'm not walking. I talked to Tom for a long time (another wonderful benefit of being in town), and I wandered over to the Stone Soup Bookstore & Cafe. I knew I had found my refuge for the next few days. I got a fresh lemonade and sat out on the patio writing cards and catching up on my written journal. 'Tis a tough life....I decided to head back to the tenting area to be sure my stuff was still intact. It was, but I could smell my socks and dirty clothes before I reached my tent. Ugh. I had hung them on the top of the screen of my tent, under the rain fly, to dry. For the first time in a week they were dry. They were also as stiff as plywood. I could see mud and dirt dried into them. And boy, did they stink! My whole tent stunk. A hot, humid stench that clung to your noise hairs. I dreaded having to sleep with them in the tent with me tonight. About that time, an older gentleman with a long white beard approached my tent door. He said his name was Santa's Helper; he volunteered at the Grace Hiker Hostel just a few blocks away. He said that the weather was supposed to get really bad tonight and tomorrow and that we should consider seeking more solid shelter. He said that the hostel was right around the corner, and they still had space available. It's a donation-based hostel run by the local Lutheran Church. I said thank you, but I knew they had a 2-night limit and I wanted to keep that as a back up as I was injured and would have to be in town for a few days. I didn't want to use all my days right off the bat. He said that it was a 2-night limit unless you are injured, in which case you can stay longer. Really?! I thanked him profusely and headed straight over to see about getting a space. This town's hospitality seems to have no limits. Two volunteers greeted me as I arrived. They signed me in and then gave me the 50 cent tour. There is a lounge area with sofas, a big screen TV, VCR/DVD player, movies, two computers, a small kitchen area with a fridge. We are welcome to anything in the fridge that doesn't have a name on it- the gallon jugs of milk and juice were fair game. There's a table covered in loaves of bread, bagels, english muffins, honey, pb & j, butter and a toaster. There's a wall with local maps and information. There are two showers and a stack of fresh towels (I found out that these showers were installed especially for the hikers). There were baggies of laundry detergent and well as basket of ear plugs. I was shown down to the fellowship hall were there were cots. I was told that the doors lock at 10 pm, lights out at 10:30 pm, the lounge area closes at midnight. Wake-up is at 7:30 am, and we have to be out by 9 a.m. The hostel is closed from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. I was so grateful to be there! I rushed back and packed up my stuff. Poor Breeze would come back to find me gone; I had no way of telling him that I was bailing on him. I headed back to the hostel and set up my cot. I rolled out my sleeping back, pulled out my book and crawled in bed. I was suddenly so tired. It was only 5:30, and I fell asleep. A food coma, I guess. I awoke a bit later and decided to take a shower. The showers are adjacent to the music room. I could hear beautiful classical music coming softly over the speakers. I sat in one of the chairs, closed my eyes and felt an overwhelming peace wash over me. It's been an emotional roller-coaster the last few days, and finally I had found a sanctuary, a refuge. I thought I was listening to a CD when the music came to an unexpected halt. Suddenly I realized that the music was live and coming from behind the door in front of me. The church doubles as a music school, and I was listening to my own private concert put on by the Valley Music School. I had my shower and then went to toast a cinnamon raisin bagel for dinner. The lounge was full. Everyone was crammed on the couches watching Kindergarten Cop, one of a few movies in the church's movie library. I wondered how long it had been since anyone in the room had seen the movie last. Probably decade at least. I bid my good night and crawled back onto my cot. Thank you, Grace Hiker Hostel. You have certainly provided this weary hiker with a place of refuge and restoration.