5/08/06 Monday: Baptist Hostel, Troutdale, Va to Relax Inn, Atkins, VA (25.6mi)

Greetings from the Comfort Inn, Troutville, VA... Just got in this afternoon after completing a 15mi day under sunny skies. I am really looking forward to my wifes visit tomorrow and will try to complete as many of these blog entries today... The support and encouragement of Jackie, Sara and Peter(my daughter and son), and countless other family and friends has proven to be invaluable. Thanks again for your support

PICTURES:
1. My trip today included crossing some meadows and former homesteads purchased by the Federal Gvt for inclusion into the National Park system.
2. I walked past this working farm in an idylic setting.
3. The Partnership Shelter... quite an upgrade from all the other shelters with lots of room in the loft too.. It come equipped with a shower with hot water...sorry you need to bring your own towels...LOL... And you can order pizza for delivery from a phone on the NRA Headquarters building just around the corner... You simply cant do that at any other shelter...
4. Here is a pic of Sven on the rt and Tailwind on the lt. These two gentlemen just completed their commissions with the Army... Tailwind is still on terminal leave... nice...
5. The NRA welcome sign...
6. Ferns covering the ground on this mountain top, a different and sight I found picture worthy...
7. Walking by an historic school house in very rural Virginia...
8. I was quite taken with this tree...there are lots of odd shapes out here...can you guess what this looks like???


Half the group rose early for breakfast at the local diner. I joined the early risers and by 0830 we all had finished and were ready to head out. Some local men, including the owner of the restauraunt were having coffee and as we all filed out the door I turned and complimented him on a wonderful breakfast and let them know if they were headed west and saw any of us still walking the 2mi to the trail head they should feel free to give us a ride... Well, the owner got right up and said that if everyone was ready to go he would get his pickup and we could all jump in the back. Well needless to say we were all ecstatic, 7 people hitching at once leaves little chance for a ride. In a few minutes we were all back to the trail head and on our way... The ride in 40 degree weather left us all a bit chilled but once out of the truck we all started moving and created our own internal combustion...if ya know what I mean... The day started out Foggy, and ended that way too with occational light showers to boot. I stopped with steve at the Chatfield shelter at about 1515 that afternoon for dinner and we decided to continue on to Atkins and stay in a Motel room for the night. He needed to resupply and we both craved extra carbs from the local diner. I'm still down about 15lbs... I havent been this light since high school...LOL...We got into Atkins at 1730 and got the last room at the Relax Inn, right off the trail. We were grateful since more bad weather was forcasted for that night...