Day 59 - 29th May - Woods Hole Hostel - Pearisburg - 10 miles

A fabulous breakfast at Woods Hole and we head off along the ridge to 'Angels Rest' which gives a view of the city below. A long descent to a road, then we turn right and follow the road into the town and stop at the Plaza Motel, where we are made to feel very welcome.

There is a historical 're-enactment' day in town so we go and join in and get a lesson in American history. Lots of locals wearing historical clothes, confederate uniforms and demonstrating old crafts. We enjoy the interactions.

Late in the afternoon sitting on the verandah of the motel we watch a lone figure stagger in -  it turns out to be Stickbuilt. He was one day ahead of us, but has pulled out and returned to the town with a leg injury, which he has been carrying for some time.

We shop, take Stickbuilt to the Mexican restaurant and Sandy comes to pick him up at 8.30. He is feeling down - this is the end of the AT thru-hiker dream for him, and it will take a while to get used to the idea.