Date: 2019-06-07
From: HarveyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Knob Overlook - Wattstull Motel

To: Jennings Creek at VA 614
Miles today: 12.1

I slept in a motel last night and ate dinner at a restaurant with Seaneen. Having simple amenities and having Seaneen here makes a huge difference to my mental outlook. I woke well rested and took a shower.  We went to breakfast and I cleaned my plate and Seaneen¢s. We looked in Buchanan for an outfitter just to check it out and there was not one. Back at the motel we came up with a game plan for the day.  I was going to get dropped off at Harvey¢s Knob. I was going to Slackpack-Run/Jog to Jennings Creek.  Seaneen would pick me up there. I got dressed and loaded a Camelback.  It is weird only having a liter and a half of water and nothing else on my back.  Seaneen dropped me off at the gap and Luci and I set out into the woods.  I got 10 feet in and Luci saw an oncoming hiker and went ballistic - that guy is not supposed to be there!!!  It was Ahh Kash.  I stopped Seaneen and introduced Ahh Kash to Seaneen. Ahh Kash was slackpacking SOBO, back to Daleville.  I started out strong and after a few I started walking on the uphills.  The first 4 miles went well, the second 4 miles was more uphill, and the last 4 miles was pretty much downhill. Every time Luci saw a hiker on the trail she got very defensive of me and barked and growled at them.  I stopped at the second shelter and there were three hikers there, Luci was pretty much disinterested in them.  One of the hikers stood up and Luci growled at him.  I continued on and got to the last four miles and started to pick up the pace.  I had my phone on and had my Map my Rumn app activated.  When I got to two miles out I figured I could do the 12.1 miles in under 3 hours but, I would have to pick up the pace.  I was flying the last two miles downhill.  I was thinking, if Seaneen saw me she would say something like: ¢you need to slow down, you are going to fall and break you leg.¢ I was loving it, my legs felt great and I was hopping and skipping over rocks, stumps, and steps.  I got to the parking lot in 2:59:58.  As I was finishing I saw a pop up tent/canopy.  Hmmmm trail magic??? It was TRAIL MAGIC.  A former through hiker named Dingo was camping at the campgrounds down the street and set up Trail Magic for the day, and tomorrow.  He cooked me a grilled cheese with tomato and ham on it!  We stayed and talked to him and his wife for about 20 minutes.  Just a note, Hiking Legs do not translate to Running Legs.  I felt good for the most part but I thought I would have felt better with all of the hiking I¢ve been doing and the loss of 20lbs. Normally 12 miles of hiking takes me at least 6 hours, I was able to run/jog 12 miles in 3 hours.  I went back to the motel and took a bath.  After my bath I washed my my backpack in the the shower.  The water turned brown ; (  I knew my pack was dirty and I knew it stunk but, WOW. 12.1 miles is the longest Luci has ever run and she has pretty much been sleeping since we got back.Seaneen took me to dinner in Lexington VA, I ate everything, and we had dessert too.Wildlife update: I saw nothing today. It was rainy and I was in the clouds for the most part. Plus I was running.