Balancing on Blue - Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail by Keith Foskett

Author:Keith Foskett [Foskett, Keith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-03-18T22:00:00+00:00

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Just over six miles from the Wapiti shelter a thru-hiker meets a dirt road at Sugar Run Gap. Half a mile east lays Woods Hole Hostel, a place previous thru-hikers had recommended I stay. Set down this quiet road, amongst the surrounding woods, Woods Hole was opened in 1986 by Roy and Tillie Wood; their granddaughter, Neville, continues to run it with her husband Michael.

I crunched down Sugar Run Road, walked through the gates and sat down admiring the chestnut-coloured, red-roofed house built back in the 1880s. Vegetable plots lined the front of the house with healthy, vibrant plants growing strongly. I took off my shoes and walked down a grassy slope to an outbuilding where a few hikers mingled, relaxing. Ken, Margaret, Flint, Thirsty and Bush Goggles all dribbled in as well as Lazagne, fresh from his two-day stopover in Bland sitting out the rain. Even Lord Horatio Fonsworth Belvidere Bentley Tiberius III, Esq. turned up.

It was a beautiful setting, miles from anywhere and away from any noise intrusion. The atmosphere rubbed off on everyone and we soon relaxed. I showered, did my laundry by hand as there was no machine, read sitting on a log and even managed a game of chess with Lazagne on the hostel’s own, real chess board.

We ate like kings and queens that evening, spoilt by a table groaning with home produce. The tradition at Woods Hole dictates that just prior to eating, all thru-hikers gather in a ring around the fire and, holding hands, introduce themselves and say a short piece. I was one of the first and as I watched the introductions filter down the line, I saw it was only a matter of time before Lord Horatio Fonsworth Belvidere Bentley Tiberius III, Esq. had to introduce himself.

I couldn’t stop giggling. Before he had even started, just the thought of his eight-worded title was too much. After some tweaking, lengthening, shortening and playing around with, Lord Horatio Fonsworth Belvidere Bentley Tiberius III, Esq. was where he had settled.

I slept in the loft of the outbuilding, next to an open window where the breeze kept me cool and a little moonlight filtered through.

I was excited — Trail Days was imminent.

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