Beginning Point: Daleville, VA
Ending Point: Wilson Creek Shelter
Daily Mileage: 11.4 Miles
Total Miles: 724.9 Miles
Weather: Hot and humid, but it was sunny!
We had breakfast with Slow Barbara and then checked out of the motel around 9:30. Then we began our trek to the Troutville Post Office, about 1.8 miles down and off the trail.
Hiking in the blazing sun zapped our collective energies, but Dan rescued us with a soda and snack run. Sorting through all the mail-drop stuff can be quite hairy (I took a picture), but we finally got everything straightened out.
On the road at 12:30 again, 3 miles uphill and had lunch with Margaret at the Fullhardt Shelter - seemed like a nice lady, but circulating rumors is that she's deranged. Seemed normal to me. Stephan only carried a trail register for 3 miles before finding a shelter that needed one.
Another 6.4 miles to Wilson Creek Shelter and the hike went quickly. My feet were getting sore by the end of the day though, and both my knees felt like jelly. Hopefully this condition was related to my former footwear and not my current footwear. Only time will tell.
Moxie and Whoa also hiked in to the Shelter tonight. We were hoping to catch up with them again. They need to make Glasgow, VA by Saturday morning to pick up their mail-drop; otherwise they have to wait until Tuesday to pick it up (due to the holiday).
Interesting night noises... I dreamt that my shelter-mates woke me up to tell me that a bear was raiding the camp. In the dream I heard something crashing through the brush. Then I woke up and heard something big crashing through the brush - I had to look around to see if anyone else was awake, but unlike my dream, I was the sole sentinel in the night. I listened to these noises for about 30 minutes before waking anyone. It kept getting closer and closer to the shelter and by the time I woke up everyone, I thought for sure we'd see it in a few minutes. However, no bear appeared. In fact, I didn't hear anymore noises at that point. Dan commented that he was surprised the bear wasn't frightened off by all the snoring - and them promptly fell back to sleep and to snoring. Eventually I also fell back to sleep.
Hoping for no more nocturnal ursine encounters,
Butterfingers
www.hikingat.com
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 07:34 PM