Damascus to Pearisburg

Such a great stretch of trail for so many reasons!  Starting with the zero in Damascus, filled with chores (including picking up a package of Allybars, YUM!), cards, and food with fellow hikers, mostly Grand Poobah, Bounceback, Twigs, and Chuckwagon whom I spent the majority of this stretch with.  For the time that I was with this awesome group we had nice campfires each night with good company, so fun to be surrounded by fun guys.  During this stretch i reached my 35th highpoint, Mt Rogers!  We went through the Grayson Highlands together on an  amazing clear day, had some awesome interactions with wild ponies and day hikers:). After about 4 days most of the guys had to head back home, sad to see them go, but I did get all of their left over food!  In addition to the food given to me by my friends leaving I experienced enough trail magic in southern Virginia to go an extra 9 days before having to resupply again!  After the boys left and I was on my own again I came to Woods Hole hostel.  This is hands down my favorite hostel so far!  It is a farm ran by a young couple.  Neville made an amazing dinner and breakfast while I was there, I got a massage and the hiker box there had a pair of shoes in it that I thought might work (they didn't!!). Woods Hole was just an amazing, relaxing, peaceful stop that I am very glad I made!  From there to Pearisburg it was only 11 miles, about a mile from where the trail heads downhill into town a thunder storm hit and lightning got pretty close do I did some running on that portion of trail!  Made it into Pearisburg where I bought some 10 dollar shoes at Wal Mart and spent a nice night in the hostel there with Fingers and Patches.