It was a nice and fairly clear morning, a bit warmer that it has been. The weather called for temperatures in the upper 70s today. But I planned to be in town at the local hiker hostel by mid day.
Punchbowl Shelter was partway up Bluff Mountain and, I could tell on my hike up, it was a spectacular morning. I hoped for a nice sunrise view up top. When I reached the top I found old concrete foundations for a long-gone fire tower. These made a great perch to help see over the trees and I stayed there for quite a few minutes in awe of the morning.
Most of the rest of the morning would be descending toward the James River and the adjacent road toward Glasgow. A few miles out, while still high on the mountain, I called the hostel to arrange a pick up at the trailhead.
I reached the road a little while before my pickup time and just hung out waiting. I noticed two people, a couple, coming toward me on the trail from the south. They were obviously more campers than hikers and were carrying some of their gear by hand. The lady had an unusual backpack on which, as she got close, I recognized as a pet carrier. She was carrying her cat which had gone along with them for the trip. They said they had just gone a couple of miles up to the first shelter and spent the night. I was envious they had brought their own mini-bear control and wished for a minute that I had a lightweight cat of my own to bring.
Ms. Donna from “Stanimal’s 328 Hostel” arrived shortly after and drove me back. I got cleaned up, washed clothes, and met the other SOBO hiker staying the night. “Columbus” is attempting a thru hike this year. He started in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, about 370 miles north of here. He is hiking to Springer Mountain, Georgia then returning to Carlisle to head north toward Mt Katahdin. Columbus lives and works in Corning, New York for the company of the same name. He is on a leave of absence for his hike. He and I went down the street for lunch, then got a ride to Walmart from Lee, a local man who drives for the hostel.
And here are a few other things I noticed on my way into town today.
