Date: 2014-04-15
From: Dismal Falls Campsite

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: haze

Might be my best sleep on the trail so far. Maybe because of my many back to back 20+ days, or cause of the sound of the stream all night soothing me to sleep, or maybe the darkness of the morning tricked my brain to thinking it was earlier than it really was.... Either way when I woke up Spaghetti and Papa Skwatz were gone, and it was still lightly sprinkling. It can be tricky packing up the gear when you are in a tent while its raining but it can be done. I took my time this morning doing just that, and the good thing was it wasn't freezing! I made coffee by the stream and a breakfast of some nut/fruit bar that Two-weeks gave me and a boat load of cashews that Junebug left in the hiker box. The 1st thing I do when I get my pack on and start the day id look at my watch. 10:45!!!!!!! What?!?!?! Oh my, I had planned to get to Pearisburg today, but that's a 22 mile day! Uggggh. I can't believe it's that late.The first 6 miles to Wapiti Shelter was flat and easy. The rain was so light that even though I had my rain pants on, I didn't even put my rain jacket or my pack cover on. Just my lime green glow in the dark short sleeved shirt. That however would soon change....rapidly!At the shelter the rain jacket came on. I could feel it getting a little cooler. About a half a mile up the hill I dropped the pack and put the pack cover on and zipped up my jacket....It was sleeting! The next 7 miles it iced, sleeted, and snowed. I even for a second thought about going to Woods Hole Hostel, but it was still early and I didn't want back to back neros. The weather continued to get worse. Hurricane force winds, (yes I know what hurricane force winds are, I'm not exaggerating) continued snow and now below freezing temps are the norm for the next 8.2 miles. My water bottle was frozen over which I can't remember ever happening during the day thus far. It's April 15th! Bound and determined to get to Pearisburg, I put my head down and plowed ahead. I finally came up with a word that describes almost all Thru-hikers. Stubborn! I get into town at dark, ready for my room and a big dinner. Two hotels are right there on main street and lucky me....They are all full! On a Tuesday night? Road workers laying pipe have been around for several weeks and during the work week these rooms are full..... So they give me a bed in the special room just for hikers. (pic above) Reminds me of Revenge of the Nerds when they had to go to the gym to sleep in the cots. I was mentally not in a very good mood at this point. 15 beds and all were taken but 1. Packed house. I went to the Mexican restaurant, to chow down of some hopefully predictable food. I ordered a Dos Equis and was asked for an ID! I took off my hat and said "I'm 39! Look, I'm bald and I have grey hair on my beard!" Nope, Needed an ID. Sigh... Walked back over to the hostel in the freezing temps to grab my NC ID. The food was tasteless and bland. Oh well.In the room was the usual cast plus a few more I haven't met yet. Spaghetti and Skwatz, along with Low Jack, Ginko, and a guy named Dundee. Others were section hikers, and even had a 24 year old kid riding his bike across the country with his dog in the back of a baby stroller. Not making this up! I did calm down a bit a chatted with the guys, but it was late and time for bed. Looking forward to my nero tomorrow. No, I just can't take zeros! I don't know why.Song of the day, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, -Tears for Fears