Date: 2005-09-23
From: Rice Field Shelter, Va.

To: Pearisburg, Va.
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: scattered clouds

7.3 miles todayHoliday Motor LodgePearisburg, Va. I woke up at 6:20am. When I first looked at my watch, I thought it said 2:30. I was really glad it was morning already because I didn't feel like I slept all that well. It was in the upper 60s and I just couldn't get comfortable. Much too warm for this time of year. Happily I stuck my stove out the tent door and started my coffee. I made 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for breakfast. I was packed up and walking at 7:15am. The first mile was fairly flat, then the rest was mostly downhill. The whole valley below was covered in a layer of fog. I love being on a mountain looking down at a foggy valley. I was feeling real good and was sorry that I had my bounce box to deal with. I felt like going into town and eating, then moving on. I needed to plan the next couple weeks of this hike before I take the 5 days off for The Gathering though because I didn't know how I was getting to NH. I got into town at 9:30am and stopped by a payphone to check my email, but a guy in a pickup stopped and asked if I needed a ride. I said that I did and had him drop me off by the breakfast place I usually eat at. I should have looked before I got out of the truck because they weren't open for breakfast anymore. I walked about 2 blocks to the PO and picked up my bounce box, then went and checked into the motel. I went through my bounce box, charged my camera, got my trail maps for the next few hundred miles, checked my email, washed me and my clothes and shaved. That was the first bath for my new shirt. :-))) I had an email from Chief that said Miss Janet could get me up to The Gathering, so I called and left a message on her phone. She called back and I really do have a ride to The Gathering. It never fails to amaze me how things always work out on the trail. Chief has been wanting to bring me some fried chicken feet for a long time, but I think he's decided to just meet me at Partnership Shelter on tuesday and take me out to eat. He's so southern that he doesn't even realize that not everyone wants to eat fried chicken feet. I'd gladly pay $10.00 to watch him eat some though. ;-))) Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing him and his wife, Carleen again. They are even taking me to their cabin for the night so I can get cleaned up. I'm looking forward to it Chief...Thanks!! I went over to the Chinese Buffet and ate a more normal lunch. I only had 2 plates of food. Then I went to Food Lion and resupplied for a few days. I had to get a birthday card for my dad's big #80 on October 1st. I think I found an appropriate card. Ha!! I went to three different stores before I found some smiley face stickers. :-))) My register entries just aren't the same without the smiley faces. I went back to Food Lion for a snack and Blaze came in and found me. We planned on meeting later for dinner, then he went to the hostel and got checked in. I met him a couple days ago climbing Dragons Tooth. It was great having a sobo to talk to tonight. We sat in the sports bar and ordered dinner and the food was very good. I had a one pound burger, fries and chili. We ended up staying there until 11pm talking. I got to find out about some of the sobos ahead of me and I filled him in on some of the ones we've passed. He's a decent young guy that is wanting to get done with the trail to get back home to his fiancee and a new job. Hopefully I'll run into him a time or two between here and Georgia. Town days are nice, but there's always way too much to do. I'd rather just walk everyday and just stop in towns for food sometimes.