5-8-15 "the Captains place"

I saw a place on the map called "The Captain's" and it said use zipline to cross river? I had to see this for myself. You clip your pack on a rope then you sit on the seat and pull yourself across. There is a sign that says go to the back porch for free sodas. I had a drink and relaxed in a nice chair while I charged my phone in a nearby plug. Later I met the Captain and other hikers arrived. One guy had gotten stabbed in the eye with a branch and his eye was all red, he got a ride to a town to get it looked and we all pitched in so he could pick up hotdogs and snacks. There was about 12 of us, we had a nice cookout and hung out around the fire pit. 

5-7-15 Rice Field shelter

I left Pearisburg late in the day, around noon. It was very hot and humid so I didn't go far I stopped at 4 pm and spent the night at the Rice field shelter. I built a good size fire with another hiker and watched the sun set over the bald mountain top. I was surprised I had cell service , then I noticed there was a tower on a nearby hill. I got to make some calls and catch up with family before bed a nice change. Usually I do not get service at shelters because they are remote.

5-6-15 pearisburg

I left Woods Hole after breakfast and made it to Pearisburg by 2 pm. At the road I tried to hitch in to town for about 30 minutes with no luck. Finally I gave up and started to hike the 5 miles to town and a lady stopped and offered me a ride. She told me she hosts a hiker feed on mothers day and I had to promise to attend. I went to Wal-Mart and did resupply and got a motel room for the night. Later I went to a mexican restaurant for $1 tacos and margaritas. Got a meal and a good buzz for under $15, good deal.

5-5-15 Woods Hole Hostel

I showed up at Woods hole around 2 pm and asked the owners Neville and Michael if I could do work for stay. Michael had brush that needed to be cleared for a fence project and agreed. I worked for 4 hours cutting and hauling mostly rhododendron. The cabin that the bunks were in was built out of chestnut logs in the 1880's, most American chestnut trees were killed by blight in the early 1900's and very few exist today. I joined the owners for dinner and breakfast the 2 nights I stayed. Neville keeps a garden and supplements her home cooked meals with fresh greens. She cooks her own bread which is amazing and sources all other ingredients locally mostly at an amish grocery. I love this place the farm is around 800 acres with cows, goats and pigs. They use a wood fired boiler for heat and hot water (amazing showers). In the morning you are encouraged to volunteer with daily chores like sweeping out the bunk house, bring the used towels to the main house, wipe surfaces etc. The cabin has been in Neville's family for 80 or so years so it has a lot of tradition, they really make you feel like family. 

5-4-15 Dismal falls

I made it to the dismal river around 1 pm, on the other side there is a highway crossing. The map says there is a country store with showers and laundry a mile west. Trents grocery is the only store for several miles so it has a little of everything, fast food, fishing gear, ice cream, small hardware selection, some camping gear etc. I ordered some food and paid for a shower and laundry. Around back there is a horse paddock and down a dirt road there is a concrete building that houses the shower and laundry. I cleaned up, went back to the store and bought some resupply. I went back to the trail and hiked a couple miles to Dismal falls which is on a short side trail. At the falls there were a bunch of other hikers most of which I had met before. I soaked my feet in the river and did a little fishing, later I took a nap on the rocks until the sun went down. After dark I hiked another 6 miles or so and camped in a small clearing, the night air was cool and smelled of pine I enjoyed the peaceful solitude of the forest at night.

5-3-15 full moon hike

I left Bland around 2 pm and hitched 4 miles back to the trail, I got to the first shelter and made dinner. The shelter was packed with hikers and several had tents set up nearby. There was a bright full moon after dark and I decided to move on . I hiked with just moonlight for hours. At one point I came upon 3 hikers sitting around a fire. I said hello and scared the crap out of them, they had not seen or heard me approach. They asked me where my light was and I pointed at the moon. I finally pitched my tent around midnight.

5-2-15 Bland Virginia

I left the shelter at 6 am planning to get to Bland Virginia. I made the road crossing by 4 pm and hitched in to Bland. The name makes sense as the only businesses in town are Dollar General, a grocery store and a subway. I bought some hotdogs and built a fire in the park at a pavillion to roast them over. I slept in a empty building with a missing window to avoid the rain. In the morning I was walking around main street and an older lady asked me if I planned to visit the historic society. she said it was tradition to lock hikers in the old jail and take a picture. So I went ro check it out, there was some neat civil war relics including an old rifle found on a nearby mountain pass.

5-1-15 Chestnut knob shelter

The chestnut knob shelter is one of the few shelters with a door, the privy has a view for miles. The building is an old ranger cabin built in the 50's. There were even plexiglass windows and a picnic table inside. The views from the bald (treeless mountainn top) at 4400' elevation were spectacular. I watched the sun set and cooked dinner and went to sleep early.

4-30-15 The bus to marion

In the morning I caught the bus from the Mt. Rogers visitor center which is a faw hundred yards from the shelter. I went to Marion to do laundry and to charge my phone at McDonald's while I used their Wifi. I took the bus back around noon and started to hike. the trail crossed a few cow fields and several streams. I got a late start so I hiked a couple hours after dark and camped on a ridge in the moonlight. Hiking at night is so peaceful and the temperature was perfect. I fell asleep listening to the coyotes calling to each other.

4-29-15 Back on the trail !

So I took 8 days off and made a speedy recovery, first day back I hiked 15 miles. When I made it to Partnership Shelter my ankle had a little swelling but the pain wasn't bad. This is one of the few shelters you can actually order a pizza to. I threw in with some other hikers and got a Hawaiian. Kind of a celebration of my return to the trail. There is also a shower and a bus goes in to Marion Virginia (12 miles away) 3 times a day for 50 cents. Marion has a walmart and any fast food you can think of. I showered and set up my sleeping bag and spent the night in the shelter. A bunch of hikers built a fire , a hiker played a guitar as we relaxed for the night. This is the good life.

4-20-15 thru 4-28-15 Sprained Ankle / recovery

The rain was torrential most of the night, so loud on the metal roof of the shelter you could barely sleep. I woke up around 6 am to shooting pain in my ankle, it had swollen badly and turned an ugly red. I forced my shoes on and got geared up to go. I was determined to see the ponies in the Grayson Highlands and try to enjoy my day. I was limping badly and hiking at half pace every step was painful. I spotted a small herd a couple hundred yards down a hillside. I took my pack off and sat on a rock and after a few minutes their curiosity got the best of them and they came over to investigate. The ponies are born wild but they see a lot of people so they can be friendly. After a half hour they moved on , what peaceful creatures. I had to hike around 20 miles to a road crossing and then hitch hike another 20 miles to Marion Virginia to get to a hospital. The doctor looked at it and immediately ordered xrays. Later he came back and told me surprisingly there is no bone or tendon damage. He prescribed anti-inflammatory pills and told me to stay off it for 10 days. I went to the Troutdale church hostel and the pastor agreed to let me stay to recover. During my stay I helped with a broken water line at the church. The weather was clear the whole time I was off trail which drove me nuts because I couldn't hike!