Beginning Point: Pearisberg, VA (Holiday Motor Lodge)
Ending Point: Rice Field Shelter
Daily Mileage: I don't want to disclose (7 miles)
Total Miles: 629.3 Miles
Weather: cool, rainy, and foggy
Hi Everyone,
Today... well,... um,... yeah. We didn't make the mad miles we planned on doing. As we set out to hike this morning it began to drizzle. Then the drizzle turned to a light rain, to a full-on rain, and then back to a drizzle... And then the fog rolled in. We heard the weather was really nice the week we were off the trail. Oh well. The rain must have "missed" us and wanted to wait for our safe return before setting those H2O molecules free.
We passed an interesting sign early in the day... it read, "water unsafe to drink - high levels of naturally occurring bacteria in stream". Of course, it was immediately downstream of a landfill, so we question the phrasing part about "naturally occurring" bacteria. Good thing we didn't need water.
We're here at the shelter now. We had planned on stopping here for a hot lunch and to warm up. Then we decided a nap in the sleeping bag was a good idea. Then we awoke when another hiker showed up at 4:30. Oops. The next shelter is 13 miles away, and with the threat of rain, staying put seemed like a grand idea.
At the shelter was Lightweight Joe - his base weight is 8.5 lbs or so, and he made a lot of his gear including his pack and a sleeping bag/quilt. He told me he's taking a week off soon and plans to sew a tarp-tent -- a very lightweight shelter -- with some of his own modifications. I think we will see him again after his week off and I'm interested to see his design.
We also met Turtle Don who is the self-proclaimed slowest hiker on the trail. He might be right, too, because we saw him this morning a little behind us and he arrived at the shelter about 3 hours after us. You have to admire his tenacity.
We are also here with a boy scout troop - some of them have never been on the AT before and they seem to be having a good time. The group is from Mentor OH, so we have some common roots - here's a shout out to Cleveland!
It is damp and chilly outside the shelter and only slightly less so inside. Hard to believe its technically summertime now. Oh, and by the way, there was much talk about the summer solstice, June 21st, which is "Naked Hiking Day". Lightweight Joe informed me that monday was very cold and he didn't see any naked hiking going on.
Nite!
Butterfinger
I am not one of those who think that the people are never in the wrong. They have been so, frequently and outrageously, both in other countries and in this. But I do say, that in all disputes between them and their rulers, the presumption is at least upon a par in favour of the people.
Posted by: vimax extender at October 7, 2004 07:36 PM