Date: 2005-06-15
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Thorton Gap, U.S. 211
Miles today: 14.1

Started @ Rock Spring HutDestination: Thornton Gap, US 211Miles today: 14.1Total Miles: 926Stayed in tentDay 96We were on the trail by about 7 this morning and after walking almost 1.5 miles we found a note on the sign post to Hawksbill Gap to us to come up from the trail for Gatorade. It was from Gordon and Sue, the couple that had slack-packed us a few days ago. We thought maybe it had been left yesterday afternoon but when we went up to the parking area they were there and had arrived there early to leave the note. The man they had gone to Waynesboro to help slack-pack asked them to take him to the bus station so he could go home. He had been hiking and doing some slack-packing before Gordon and Sue slack-packed him but the heat and humidity had gotten to him and he decided he had had enough. So that left them without anyone to slack-pack. They decided they would try to find RedHat and me because he said we had been so appreciative of them slack-packing us the other day. So we left our packs and they gave us day packs to put water, first aid supplies, and our raingear in and off we went after drinking a bottle of Gatorade. They met us about 4 miles north at Skyland and we all had breakfast there. By this time MacPac had caught up to us and he joined us. Sue walked across the country in 1999 after she received her second kidney transplant but since then has lost a leg due to diabetes and is also legally blind. Gordon has walked the AT some and they both love being out here helping hikers. Sue is the sweetest woman and enjoys the company of hikers. They are such a giving couple. They certainly will be among our favorite trail angels. They give out Gatorade to any hiker they see, also. So until Friday afternoon they are going to help us slack-pack and we are going to take advantage of this opportunity and try to squeeze some more miles so we can feel better about taking a zero day. At Thornton Gap where we ended today's hike Gordon and Sue met us and we went to the Elkwallow Gap Wayside for sandwich and fries. I had no room for ice cream afterwards but now I am wishing for some. The Wayside is north of where we start hiking tomorrow so we are going to stop there as we pass by and have our lunch there. We will go back there after we are picked up at our stopping point tomorrow and have our evening meal--a sandwich and fries again. Gordon and Sue brought us with them to this campground--Matthews Arm Campground--and RedHat, MacPac, and I have our tents set up. They are staying here tomorrow night as well, so we will just leave the tents up but will take our stuff out and take it all with us in the van. The trail today had some beautiful views of the Shenendoah valley. There are mountain laurels still blooming and there was the scent of some fading azaleas noticed a few times. Also, there were many wild columbines and a number of Turkey Beards (a flower that we found out the name of recently from Lady Di). The weather was wonderful for hiking today. It was windy when we got up this morning and we were afraid it might rain before the day was over. But the sky was blue with some puffy white clouds all day. A couple of times there were some darker clouds but they blew over. It was hot but the wind helped so much. The wind is still blowing now and I am hoping it continues tomorrow. MacPac said he saw a big bear on the trail not too far after he left the shelter this morning. It was his second sighting of a bear. Last night at the shelter there were deer roaming all around the shelter and there were a couple this morning just grazing on the grass with no fear at all.Well, it is dark and time to turn my headlamp off and go to sleep. We are planning 18 miles tomorrow and the next day but that should be possible with a light day pack on. Thanks to Gordon and Sue that are so giving of their time to hikers like me.