Adventures in town near the AT are always good. Marion, VA is six miles off the trail on VA route 16. For 50 cents each we rode a 20 passenger city bus six miles from the Mt Rogers Park visitors center to the Marion Walmart. Then we walked about a half a mile to the Marion Econolodge to our luxurious accommodations. During our 24 hour stay here we made that half mile walk three or four times to either buy groceries, eat at a restaurant or catch the bus.
This morning we had to catch the bus at noon to get to the post office to mail home some cold weather clothes that we no longer need. As we were leaving the motel my watch said we had five minutes to make the ten minute walk. Not good. If we missed this bus we would also miss the last bus for the day taking hikers back to the trail.
Best Wife, Wayne, and Pappy 12 were hustling across the four lane road in front of the motel, backpacks clearly identifying the three of us as hiker trash, when I spotted a man walking out of a bank toward his rusted out Dodge pickup. He got to his truck at about the same time as I did so I called out to him, "If we hop in the back of your truck can you give us a ride to Walmart?" He had no problem with the deal so off we went, Wayne and I in the back, Best Wife in the cab. Good looking women can get away with that kind of stuff.
As we were getting close to Walmart the bus was on the road four cars behind us. So at the Walmart we hopped out of the truck, backpacks in tow, and onto the bus as if the whole thing was planned.
After mailing our package at the post office, Best Wife used her best Yogi skills to beg another ride back to Walmart. Mr Pugh heard her plea to a women, and the rejection from her, and called out to us to come get in his car. This life long resident of Marion and former principal of Marion Jr High then told us all about Marion on the way to Walmart. Mr Pugh is a saint.
Plenty of time to buy and eat lunch from an Ingles grocery store deli before we boarded the bus to take us back to the woods.
We had our boots on the Appalachian Trail by 2:30 p.m.9 miles later we were settling in to our digs for the night in a restored 1800s one room school house that is open to hikers. Great accommodations.
9 miles for the day, 970 total so far. Friday will be a great day when we hit the 1000 mile mark. There better be some Ben and Jerrys for sale close by to celebrate.
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This morning we had to catch the bus at noon to get to the post office to mail home some cold weather clothes that we no longer need. As we were leaving the motel my watch said we had five minutes to make the ten minute walk. Not good. If we missed this bus we would also miss the last bus for the day taking hikers back to the trail.
Best Wife, Wayne, and Pappy 12 were hustling across the four lane road in front of the motel, backpacks clearly identifying the three of us as hiker trash, when I spotted a man walking out of a bank toward his rusted out Dodge pickup. He got to his truck at about the same time as I did so I called out to him, "If we hop in the back of your truck can you give us a ride to Walmart?" He had no problem with the deal so off we went, Wayne and I in the back, Best Wife in the cab. Good looking women can get away with that kind of stuff.
As we were getting close to Walmart the bus was on the road four cars behind us. So at the Walmart we hopped out of the truck, backpacks in tow, and onto the bus as if the whole thing was planned.
After mailing our package at the post office, Best Wife used her best Yogi skills to beg another ride back to Walmart. Mr Pugh heard her plea to a women, and the rejection from her, and called out to us to come get in his car. This life long resident of Marion and former principal of Marion Jr High then told us all about Marion on the way to Walmart. Mr Pugh is a saint.
Plenty of time to buy and eat lunch from an Ingles grocery store deli before we boarded the bus to take us back to the woods.
We had our boots on the Appalachian Trail by 2:30 p.m.9 miles later we were settling in to our digs for the night in a restored 1800s one room school house that is open to hikers. Great accommodations.
9 miles for the day, 970 total so far. Friday will be a great day when we hit the 1000 mile mark. There better be some Ben and Jerrys for sale close by to celebrate.
Sent from my iPhone
Sounds like you guys are lovin' the hiker trash persona. Oh my goodness--I never knew this about you!
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