Day 19: Monday, June 23

(Susan) Today was our last day on the trail. We hiked from the Mt Nebo area back to Albright (near Kingwood)--probably not more than 8 miles or so. Since we made the decision not to complete the yo-yo, we needed to figure out how to get back to our car in Pearisburg. We formulated a plan while hiking and it all came together without a hitch: When we arrived back in Albright, we went to Teter's Campground and took a shower. The owner graciously allowed us to use her internet to check local bus schedules--then drove us the few miles into Kingwood where we ate lunch and used the internet at the library to arrange for a one way rental car. In Kingwood we took the Buckwheat Express (a small regional bus service) to Morgantown where the driver let us off right in front of Enterprise rental. The economy car we ordered hadn't been returned and the Enterprise folks talked us into taking a panel van for the same price--and throwing in a half a tank of gas for free. They also didn't tack on any fee for the one way rental as long as we returned the vehicle to another location in WV. So in late afternoon we headed down to Pearisburg with a large empty van (save a couple of backpacks)--and are spending the night at the Rendevous Hotel in Pearisburg, VA where we had left our car. The folks that own the Rendevous are big supporters of AT hikers--and they stay pretty booked up with the hiking crowd this time of year. We got lucky and got the last room available. Tomorrow we will return the van to an Enterprise rental place in Princeton, WV, then head home to SC. Another thru-hike+ completed!

On an AT related note: We also reminisced with Rendevous owner Brenda (?) about Tillie Woods, who operated the Wood's Hole Hostel south of Pearisburg. Tillie passed away earlier this year at the age of 89. Her hostel was the coolest place! A restored log cabin with several outbuildings, an outdoor shower, privy, bunkhouse/barn where the hikers slept in a loft. If you were one of the first 8 folks to arrive on a given day, you could eat breakfast in the main cabin the next morning. On our 2002 AT thru-hike, D and I were #7 and #8 to arrive so we got to spend time talking to Tillie about the little cabin she and her late husband had bought in the 40's when he was a grad student studying elk in the area. Tillie's granddaughter owns the old cabin now and is currently having it enlarged and was getting rid of some of Tillie's older furnishings. Brenda (the owner of the Rendevous) got a number of Tillie's hand-made rugs that were being thrown out, and gave me one as a souvenir. I'll treasure it as a memento of our hike and stay at Wood's Hole.