5/13/06 Saturday: Pearisburg, Va to Rice Field Shelter (6mi)

Well, I was still hoping to get a few blog entries in today so I got up early and cooked myself some breakfast with food purchased at the super Wal-mart the day before. I got enough food to share with the group, many on a really tight budget... So I scrambled 5 eggs and had some fruit and by 0845 I was on my way to the Public Library to do some blogging... I bid farewell to the group and met Skunk again at the Library checking her e-mail. She got booted off first and after about 1hour my turn came for the boot. They only had 3 computers connected to the internet and there was a line pretty early... I hung around and got back on to post another days blog before getting the boot again.. Tried one more time and by 1200 decided that I wasnt gonna get anything more done so Id best hit the road. I stopped at Hardees for a last Carb loading binge and was joined once again by skunk who had been taking care of other business before leaving town... We both ate our fill and headed out for a short day that included a 1700 foot ascent over about 2 miles. We were gonna push it too hard with an ascent like that.

PICTURES:
1. On my way to the Public Library I snapped this shot of the Catholic Church sign on the street side. There were some parishoners there weeding the church gardens on this very pleasant day.
2. I met these two gentlemen who were from West Virginia hiking south. They had originally intended to thru-hike the AT this year but personal and family medical issues caused a change in plans and resulted in some section hiking. There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying this wonderful trail experience in sections...
3. The hike up to the ridge was difficult but we were rewarded with some pretty fantastic vistas
4. Views of West Virginia from these Virginia Appalachian Mtns
5. Sunset over West Virginia... Thats Aloha who just had her 19th birthday... shes thru-hiking from Portland,Me. She must have been a track star at school cause she moves... Calls herself Aloha which has a double meaning...Hello and Goodbye... very appropriate for her... LOL