My zero day in Pearisburg was just what I needed. I got to sleep in, grab breakfast, and explore the town. As I walked down town I got to enjoy small town america from their murals, Bicentennial monuments, and historic sites. I walked around town till I came to a coffee shop and got an Iced Chai to enjoy sipping as I went and enjoyed walking the rest of the streets.

At the top of the Hill leading into town was the historic site of the Andrew Johnston house, a businessman who lead to the founding of the town. The local history society has turned it into a museum show casing life from the early 1800s to the early 1900s. I just happened to be in town on a saturday while they were open, so I took the tour. Which was me and one of the historical
Society members going into the house. I got a personalized one on one tour! It was great to talk and share our love of history and teaching together as we went through the house. We also got to talk about my trips to Williamsburg and many of the building practices of the homes. I spent the whole afternoon with the tour and then a walk through of the museum building with the other historian. Well worth a tour if you are going through on a Saturday.

After taking a zero day I was ready to get back on the trail. I took a shuttle from the same driver who picked me up, Honey Bun, and he dropped me back off at sugar run. From there I made may way up onto the ridge line that took me to Angels Rest. Decent views with some big rock formations. I hiked my way back down into Pearisburg and crossed over the New River.

After crossing the River, I encountered signs say dont drink the water from a side stream, which I later saw was run off from a landfill the trail borders as it heads back up to the mountains. I walked a bit firther to make 15 miles and that was enough when I saw a nice campsite and didnt eant to risk not finding one as flat later on. Unfortunately, after I set up my tent, I tripped over on of the guylines. Now I leave my tent open after I set it up to let it air our before going to bed. Unfortunately, I forgot this as I reset and tightrnrd the guy line. So when I zipped up for the night, I popped the zipper cause it was too taut. I tried in vain to do a field repair, so I just ended up taping up the seam with Leukotape. It held pretty well which was good cause it was raining that night.

Day 2 I woke up and decided to say in bed late and not break down camp until the tain stopped. Normals I am fine walking through the rain, but the weariness setting in combined with it dropping to the mid 30s that night did not make me want to get wet. So day 2 was a late start, but a restful start. I made my way back up to the ridge line and took it down till about 7pm, found a nice site about 10 miles in and set up for the night.

The next day, Day 3, I was feeling great when I woke up and broke camp relatively ealry. I made my way down past Pine Swamp Branch Shelter into the Valley of Stoney Creek before making my way Past Baily Gap Shelter. Now, you arebt supposed to stop at Baileys Gap cause they have been having some bear problems, but I snuck in to use the privvy. No brars bothered me. From there I went up and over wind Rock to follow the ridge line to Lone Pine Peak before heading down towarda War Spur Shelter. I got to the shelter about 6pm and several hikrs had stopped for the evening, but I kept going down to Johns Creek for the night. When I got there, there were a few other people who had the same idea a me, so we spread out and enjoy the quiet of the river together. 21 miles felt good after taking the rest days right before. While I was making dinner a bullfrog jumped out of the river right in front of me took one look at me and did a backflip back into the stream.

I woke up well on day 4, taking my time in the morning cause I knew I only had 8 more miles to go before I would be at the pick up point. My family was heading out to Shennandoah that morning before my husband came down to pick me up and take me back up to my mother and sister whom he had dropped off earlier.

So I went up snd over Johns Creek Mountain pretty quickly and past Laurel Creek Shelter, though I stopped for a lunch and refilled at a beautiful mountain stream. As I came down the mountain and out of the forest, I was back in farmland. Cows and horses greated me as I waled down and over plank bridges laid of streams from their fields to wait at the VA 42 crossing with the trail. There was a little soderoad that I set up my chair and waited.

While waiting a car pulled up and the driver was picking up 4 other hikers getting off rhe trail, so we chatted for a bit while she waited. She was an art therapy teacher so we had some good conversation about teaching kids and how being in the outdoors is so good for them and us. One her hikers came down the mountain, they headed off and a few sprinkles came in.

As I kept waiting another hiker came to the crossing and waited for a ehile for the rest of his group to catch up. I feel that we had seen each other before, but I was in a napping mood. However, once the rest of the group show up, I realized that Outlaw from the Smokies was with them. I thought she would be way ahead of my after I got Noro, but she just said she was taking her time. They all called around to get rooms, which was hard with graduations happening that week. But they found one eventually and hitched a ride.

I waited about another 1.5 hours until I was picked up and we headed to Shennandoah before heading to Lake Anna to celebrate my birthday.

Summary of Progress:

• Miles Completed: 52.9

• Total Miles Completed: 678.5

• Location: Virginia

• Weather: Cozy in the Rain