Date: 2019-04-05
From: Route 58

To: Crazy Larry's Hostel
Miles today: 16.0

I didn't have a great night of sleep. It was just me and Crazy Larry at the hostel and I was cold at first and then woke up sweaty. I took advantage of the lock on my door and stripped off my pajamas and crawled back into bed with just the sheet and my last 15mg of melatonin. I woke up with my alarm at 6am feeling better but hearing the pouring rain outside. Larry made me breakfast that consisted of home fries (made with sweet potato, white potato, onion and seasoning) eggs, sausage, biscuits, cantalope, orange juice and coffee. He was off to take a nap because he didn't sleep well last night either. I would rather take a nap than hike in the cold rain but it wasn't an option for me. I need to keep this schedule. My shuttle driver (also Larry) was a few minutes early but I was ready and off we went. He was a great driver on these winding mountain roads dropping me at route 58 where I left off yesterday. I hiked myself warm and despite being soaked I was never cold. By 10:30 the rain had stopped and by 11am it was sunny. I kept my rain gear on a while until it was mostly dry and then stopped and packed it in my bag. I even took off the long sleeve shirt I had and left my short sleeve shirt on. It felt good to have my arms uncovered. I waited until I was at the bottom of the last climb of the day for my lunch break. I saw a little path thru the rhododendron that I thought must least to a campsite and took it. Sure enough it opened up to a beautiful large campsite with great rocks for sitting and there on the other side of the 50' wide site were 2 more trails leading to the Virginia Creeper Trail which I could clearly see. I've been seeing it off and on all day, running alongside the AT at lower elevation and disappearing when the AT climbs high. I wondered why the trails didn't combine here, it seems silly they don't. I'd hiked myself dry with the exception of my feet which were soggy and most disgruntled. Sitting felt good but I didn't take my shoes off. While I lunched on pepperoni and cheddar ruffles chips I looked longingly at the creeper trail. It's 4 miles shorter, the words of Cedar ringing in my head. My feet hurt so badly. Would it be so bad if I took the creeper? I mean seriously what's 4 miles out of 2190.9? For 20 minutes I considered the option and thought about how I'd feel later if I did that. I pondered other things too, like the bag of artificially flavored fruit slices I was eating, do all the bags have 4 orange, 3 red, 2 green and 1 yellow "fruit slices"? I took the climb of 2+ miles on the white blaze trail. I don't feel badly about considering the option of the creeper but I do feel really good about my choice to stay on trail, despite the protesting of my feet. But I did tell myself that someday I WILL do the Virginia Creeper Trail and I'll do it with Brian on bicycles no matter how much he complains that the seat hurts his butt. He'll have to get some tips from our friend Kim F on that. After all this trail hurts my feet and yet I hike it every day! What's 33 miles with a sore ass?Not quite to the top of the climb I scared 2 large birds not far apart. The first was a pilliated woodpecker and the other I believe was a grouse. They scared me too! The trail brought me down across route 58 and for 4/10ths of a mile is joined with the Virginia Creeper Trail as it comes into town. I was back at the hostel and freed my feet from the painful enslavement of wet socks and shoes putting the stinky sheddings outside to dry in the sun. Then I walked to the post office in my Crocs to grab a box while Larry warmed up some of his homemade chicken noodle soup for me. I sat at his table and ate it right out of the pan. Delicious! There were 3 new hikers at the hostel so the shower was busy and as soon as it was my turn I took advantage of it. I met my new roommate from Finland, Finish Line. She's staying 2 nights and taking a zero tomorrow, as is the hiker from Germany. All nice people and certainly quiet. When I was hungry again I wandered over to 7 Trails where I received the worst service ever. The naked wings and beer were good however. At the end of it all the owner comped my dinner and I brought my Cesar salad back to the hostel and gave it to one of the guys who was most appreciative. At 8:30 I crawled into bed exhausted. Finish Line was still out and I barely heard her come in later. My alarm was set for 6:30 and my shuttle comes at 8am again, right after breakfast.