06/06

Woke up early to get a jump on our 11 mile day. The hike wasn’t too strenuous, but the whole time my mind was on food. Supposedly, there was a restaurant at the trailhead we’d been talking about it for miles. By the time we finally got there, they were out of food. Just like that. Sign still up. Doors still open. Just… nothing left.

We caught a shuttle into Bland, Virginia, where I’d planned to pick up a gear swap package. Upon arrival, the post office let me know it had been delayed. No idea when it’ll actually show up. Great. The shuttle driver shared his trending stock trades of the day and claimed he came up with roller blades before they “took off”. He then brought us to the Dollar General so we could do a patchwork resupply and dropped us off at what could only be described as a hiker halfway house.

There’d been a sign posted along the trail advertising this place. Someone’s home, supposedly opened up as a hostel. On a budget, it seemed like a better option than an overpriced motel. Or so we thought.

The man who owns the house wasn’t there (we were told he was off on a work trip) but we were “more than welcome” to stay on our own. It became clear almost immediately that no one had been here in months. Dust on the shelves. Bugs scurrying about. A pungent and strange smell, that emanated from the “composting bin” left behind in the kitchen. No AC. No blinds. The bunk room is a glorified broom closet in the basement. We got the general sense that this place only functions because hikers pass through and keep it somewhat alive. And even then, just barely.

It wasn’t long before we were joined by another hiker named “Puma”. A short older woman from China who radiated with positivity. Walking in the door she too was less than impressed with our new found home. She did make a valiant attempt to rid us of ants by sprinkling coffee on the floor. This of course didn’t work, and only made the place look that much more… charming. We sat on the porch to smoke and escape the heat, chatting with her for hours. While I couldn’t make out everything she was saying, I pieced together that Hong Kong isn’t what it was in the 80s.

I’m currently sleeping on the floor of the front room. The streetlight outside gives the whole place a strange yellow glow, like we’re waiting for the next act of a horror movie to begin. The only upside is the shower was hot.

The rub of it is, we’re stuck here until my package arrives. So this little haunted waystation may be home for the next day or so. Lucky us.