Date: 2004-06-16
From: Comfort Inn, Daleville, Va.

To: .4 miles north of Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: light rain

18.9 miles today.4 miles north of Bobblets Gap ShelterStealth tentingI woke up in a motel this morning. I took a shower and went down to the continental breakfast and got my coffee and ate. I stayed at the Comfort Inn last night and I have to say it is much nicer than the old Best Western or the EconoLodge her in Daleville, Va. The breakfast was even ok. Ole Man and NaviGator were there so I sat down with them. NaviGator was still in her pajamas and I made sure everyone knew it. A little later I met Tall Tales and his fiancee, Crazy Legs at breakfast. I just took my time this morning and didn't check out until 11am. That's right, I used up all my motel time. The cleaning lady was waiting on me to leave so she could clean the room. I walked over to the Country Cookin' Restaurant and ate lunch before I left for the trail. I wish that I had eaten there before because I thought it was the best place in town and lunch only cost about 6 bucks. They served lots of good vegetables and a really good salad and what ever meat you choose and they even include desert. I ran into Scout and found out she is getting off the trail today because of an injury. She doesn't plan on coming back until next year. NaviGator and Ole Man are moving ahead about 300 miles today. I also ran into Walrus again. He was the guy that was sitting in the middle of the trail looking so pathetic while it was raining hard just north of Adkins, Va. I just found out that he had just started his hike on that day. I didn't have to resupply because Scout put all her stuff in the hiker box and I was able to get enough food to get me to the next town.I called my Mother before I left and she is sounding much more coherant today. She said that they already had her standing...she was just operated on yesterday and got two knee replacements. I hiked into the woods after lunch and it didn't take long to get soaking wet. It feels like a sauna in here today with the high humidity.I ran into those three ladies from the other day. They're doing a southbound slack today and I got to ask their names...Nanna Kay, Mosie and Little Fish.I got to Fulhardt Knob Shelter and there were more thru hikers there than I've seen in any one place on this years hike. There was Gatherer, Moose, Tall Tales, Crazy Legs, Clueless, Nightmare, Billy The Kid, Shaggy Stick and Sheriff. I got water and talked a while and then hiked on. About 5 minutes after I left there it started raining and it rained for about 90 minutes. I'm not complaining because it really felt good and cooled things down for a little bit. I ate a lite dinner at Wilson Creek Shelter and ran into two hikers I hadn't met before...Banjo and Dirt Nap. I got water a little ways past the shelter and hiked on to Bobblets Gap Shelter. I was actually going to stay in a shelter area tonight, but I changed my mind when I looked around for a soft tent site. I hiked on a short distance and found a nice spot. I can't see the Blue Ridge Parkway, but I can hear a car come by once in a while, so I know i'm pretty close to it. I thought that I would be in Ga. tonight, but it didn't work out yesterday for me to leave and I got to thinking about it last night and decided to cancel the rental car that I had scheduled to pick up today because I've learned to go with the flow. The trail must not have wanted me to leave yet because nothing worked out yesterday, so I decided to go with the trail and let things happen when it's right. When things are right, everything just falls into place. That's why I never worry about how I'm going to do something out here. It's almost magical how things happen out here and I guess that I was supposed to hike on today. Maybe someone is planning on bringing me some fried chicken soon. Another great day on the A.T.