Day 46, miles today- 17.2, total- 637

Woods Hole Hostel to Rice Field Shelter.

After eating breakfast at Woods Hole, I had to do a 1/2 mile road walk to get back to the trail. It was 9:15 am when I got to the trail. It was in the low 40's which is nice for backpacking. Today I had some really great views. The one valley view was spectacular.

I had a little more than ten miles to reach Pearisburg, VA. My plan was to resupply, go to the post office, and eat lunch there. I got to town at 12:30 pm. I walked towards the Food Lion. A couple doors down was the Lucky Star Buffet Restaurant. At a distance I saw two guys with packs going in. I didn't know who it was, so I headed there to see if it was anyone I knew. It was Truck Surfer and Jet Pack. I had seen both of them several times in the past. They are both in their early twenties. Since I was there, and they offer AYCE ( all you can eat) for 5.99, I decided to eat also. The two guys invited me to join them, which I did. I took a picture of Truck Surfer sitting in front of the restaurant after we had finished.

I next walked several blocks to the Post Office to mail something home. After that I walked back to the Food Lion to get food for the next 70-90 miles. I saw the five young guys I had saw at the hostel, leaving the store. We spoke briefly. After getting my food items, I then started the one mile walk back to the trail. I passed a DQ on the way, so I stopped for an ice cream cone. When I got outside, I couldn't hold the cone and put my pack on, so I asked a girl walking by if she'd h,old it for me. She looked at me a little funny, but she said okay. On the way out of town I across the US 460 bridge which goes over the New River. Finally back on trail.

I came to a short side trail to the Pearis Cemetery. There were some really old headstones. Many of the people had died in the early 1900's. The oldest was for Captain George Pearis, a Revolutionary War soldier. He was born in 1746 and died in 1810. I find old cemeteries interesting. It's always a little sad to see how many young children died back many years ago.

Coming out of most towns there is a big up, today was no exception. My food bag was over flowing, which meant extra weight. So the big up was difficult. It was after 7:00 pm when I reached the Rice Field Shelter. Jet Pack, Foxtrot, and Dutch were the only people there. I was afraid it might be full given how late I had arrived. I made macaroni and cheese. I also had a brownie, I offered the others one also. Foxtrot is the guy in the red jacket.

We talked for a hour or more about life on the trail and our plans for the days ahead. Later I worked on my blog, while someone snored away. It's close to 10:00 now, so I better get to sleep too. Right after I find my ear plugs.