No Pain - No Rain - No Maine

That's the mantra for AT hikers and we have definitely had our share of the rain part!!

Let me start where I left off in Damascus which was a great zero day. After a good breakfast of egg and sausage biscuits at Cowboys we left town following the Virginia Creeper Trail which parallels the AT basically but is flat and a beautiful walk for about 12 miles. It is a Rails to Trails trail that was named because of the slow haul up the hill the freight/passenger train took. Joining the AT again we went uphill meeting fog and the day went downhill from there. We summited Mt. Rogers, VA's highest point, but didn't see it due to rain; did get to see the wild ponies in the late afternoon before pitching a wet camp; went through the Grayson Highlands next morning in a continuous rain & fog, wading through creeks; then the magic happened. There was a Baptist Church Hostel 2 miles down a road crossing and we caught a ride to it where we found hot, hot showers and a heated building of bunks where we could dry out the wet stuff which included feet that looked like something that had been in the ocean for 1000 years.  Next morning the pastor's wife picked up 4 of us to transport back to the trail and she came with fresh hot heaven sent egg burritos.

The day was looking better with some sun, a decent trail and some nice views. The magic continued a few miles down the trail with the Valley View Baptist Youth Group box of magic that included everything from first aid to all kinds of food. We ate our share including a couple of tapioca puddings. Yum!

 

Banter, Aqua Man, Grizzly, Sky Pilot (from Tucson), Zen Master and Canadian Bacon are some of the trail names we have met and crossed paths with over the days. In small world happenings for Flagstaff friends, Zen Master works for and opened up Natural Grocers last summer there!

 

 Partnership Shelter is a few miles out of Marion and is at a Forest Service Visitor Center. We got there in the early afternoon, did a quick resupply in town and then enjoyed the rest of the evening which includes ordering a pizza from the shelter where Pizza Hut delivers. One large supreme pizza later we were all happy campers!

 But it's not all about food...really! There are some nice forest views and the flowers are beginning to come out in Virginia. 

There was also a stop along the trail at an old schoolhouse (early 1900s to about 1930s) and a small museum about the settlement that was a real trail treat.

 OK, maybe it is all about food! More rain and more magic...at Walker Gap, a dirt road that crosses the trail, a family for the past 6 years has done this magic on the day before Mother's Day. It was a spread that included hot dogs, chili, slaw, cakes, drinks and especially fresh veges and fruit. They even handed out postcards and said to write them and they would mail them. This kind of kindness happens very often on the trail in in towns and is so very appreciated.

Mother's Day was sunny but windy and cold and when we got to Bland we gave in and got a room where we got laundry done and all the gear dried out. 
Fortunately the forecast is good now and they days are at least partly sunny. Lunch yesterday had a nice view. We crossed many footbridges including this one suspension bridge.

 We still have several Rhodedendron tunnels.

 Today we walked into Woods Hole Hostel early in the morning. It's an old farm owned now by the granddaughter of the original owners (I may not have this straight though). The main building you see here is of actual chestnut wood. They have a bunkhouse for hikers and we'll eat dinner from their organic garden tonight. A truly relaxing place and we decided to take the day off just to enjoy it. We are in Pearisburg currently using the library and will hike into this same town tomorrow morning to pick up the maildrops with our summer gear that didn't make it in time to Damascus. That was a fortunate thing though as we are still enjoying winter bags!

Last but not least, thank you all for the comments and emails. I wish I had time to reply to all of you, but know that we both appreciate all the good wishes you send.