Date: 2003-06-20
From: Niday Shelter

To: Catawba, Va.
Miles today: 5.0

start Niday Shelterdestination Catawba,Va. I woke up at 6:00 am, took a look outside and dozed back off. I had promised Mudbutt she could sleep late this morning because of her fall yesterday. I woke up at 7.15 just as the rain started. I could not beleive it! More rain!!!I knew I could not get Mudbutb out of her tent if it was raining, so I just waited. I sat and talked to Pirate for awhile and had breakfast. It stopped raining just after 9:00. We had talked last night about going into Catawba today. Mudbutt has had a really hard week. Her clothes have all soured, and everything she has is wet. The rain can really wear down a hiker's resolve. She said she really needed a zero day. Now needing a zero day is very much different than wanting a zero day. A person needs what a person needs. So off the trail we came just south of Catawba, Va. Just before we got off of the trail, we came upon some trail magic provided by Josh and Bob, who evidently hiked the trail last year. For once the coolers were not empty. There were various cold drinks and one chocolate chip cookie, which I tryed to share with Mudbutb but she refused it. We had a wonderful time, just standing there enjoying a cold drink in the forest. We started walking on the road towards town. I had no idea how far it was to town, I just knew I was walking towards a dry bed, a hot shower, and a washing machine. Even though we were walking on the road, the scenery was a refreshing change from the woods. It was like taking a very slow tour through rural Virginia. At one point we stopped and took pictures of a baby donkey and it's momma. Every time a car came by, we would both stick out our thumb. Finally, a small pickup passed us, slowed and pulled over. How I love those small trucks!!Dave was the man's name. He was a disabled veteran and had been up to help a friend with some yard work. This was a man who had a brace on his leg, and a set of crutches in the back seat. He filled us in on some of the history of this small town, where he went to school and so on. You cannot imagine how good it felt to be whizzing along down the road. We stopped to get directions to the Bed and Breakfast we were going to, only to find it had closed. Luckily for us there was another place close. So here I am at the Down Home Bed and Breakfast. We had sat outside for about an hour before the owner got home. We got a room, a bath and will get our laundry done later. Plans for the evening include going to the Homeplace Restaurent for dinner. Reported to be the very best food on the AT, it is an all you can eat buffet. We will see. Yep, dinner was great!! The best roast beef and chicken I have ever had! Well, my mom's fried chicken was the very best, but this comes close. It was a very enjoyable dinner, made better by the fact that Dave gave us a ride to the restaurant, so we only had to walk the half mile back. This is a really nice Bed and Breakfast, and owners Dave and Lucy made us feel so very welcome. I love staying at B&B's instead of motels. It is just so much more homey and inviting. You meet the nicest people both guests and hosts. So with a hot shower, clean clothes, and a good book by Garrison Keillor; I spent a very nice evening. It (hiking) really isn't about the miles, but about the smiles. So far, the adventures off the trail have been just as rewarding as those on the trail.total miles 5