Date: 2003-10-14
From: Luray, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Made it here yesterday and taking a zero today, which is good timing since they are calling for thunderstorms tonight. Much better sitting in a warm, dry hotel room than a cold, damp shelter. Or even worse, hiking in a cold, wet rain. What's been happening since my last journal entry?10/10 Left Luray. Didn't get going until after lunch of course. I've never ended up leaving town early. Had to go food shopping at the local Wal-Mart (shoot me, I know). Once again, I realize that America is not designed for foot travel, since I had to walk 1.5 miles one way to go grocery shopping. An easy 3 minute drive for you is a 25 minute hike along the side of a busy road for me. Anyway, Bobby Jensen shuttled me back to the AT and I was on my way by 1220. Good views today from the peaks. Even had my picture taken on top of Little Stony Mtn. Sorry I didn't get your name dude. Let me know and I'll update this entry. Saw several deer today at the shelter, they were not at all afraid of people. Ed and Sam (weekenders) were at the shelter ahead of me.10/11 Hiked 23.9 miles today. Some drizzle in the morning, but then turned into an OK day. Not much to say, mostly just pushing miles today. Only one at the shelter tonight, built a fire to keep me company. Poison ivy has migrated to my left eye, not happy about that. Taking Benadryl to cure it.10/12 Eye still a problem. Met a couple of NOBOs (Moose and Popsicle) who were finishing the last section of their AT hike. Seemed like summertime again, talking to them. Met Rich and Anita at Loft Mtn campground, had a good time talking with them. Thanks for the ham and cheese too. An excellent day today, with good views and weather. Beat Nick, Larse, and Tony at the shelter tonight. Larse and Tony are off the USS Reagan (CVN-??) so had several flashbacks and sea stories before I hit the rack.10/13 Going to town always motivates me, so up early and on my way by 0735. Quite a few blowdowns the first 4 miles. No fun climbing over them. PATC gets a huge thumbs up for their work clearing blowdowns on the AT. Everytime I saw fresh sawdust, I thanked them for making my hike easier. Continuing south, it became immediately evident when I left the SNP boundary. The AT got steeper and rockier, like normal. Turns out I got spoiled over the last 100 miles by the manicured nature of the trail. Hitched into town with an artist lady, it surprises me everytime I get a ride. I'd never give a scruffy bum like myself a lift. Got a motel room, did laundry, and hit an AYCE steak house for supper. Life is good.10/14 Today I've done a food resupply (too much, as usual) and am at the well equipped Waynesboro Library. Later I'm heading to the doctor's to see about this poison ivy problem. Looking to meet back up with Fatcat and Grommie, or GQ and Lumberjack, and commence hiking south again. Hiking solo is not as much fun. I noticed that I was punching miles this section, instead of enjoying the hike. BTW Zig-Zag, who left HF a day ahead of me, apparently became ill and went off the trail. I believe he is a day or so behind.The trail is starting to get short for me. I've completed 1325.9 miles so far, with ~850 miles remaining. I'm on the countdown! I've been out here for 107 days, not including the 4 days I took off in MA. Time to start finalizing my plans for "what comes next." Seems like yesterday I was sitting in the VIF, but seems like forever too. Quite a trip, and not even over yet.That's all for now, thanks to all who have emailed me or written in the guest log. I hope I'm keeping you all entertained. If you have any specific questions, let me know and I'll try to answer them.Goggles