Date: 2019-04-03
From: Hurricane Mt shelter

To: Massie Gap
Miles today: 12.3

It was nice to know Buttercup was nearby last night. I woke up a few times chilled and in the morning my tent screen had ice on it from the condensation. My quilt was also damp. I packed up everything but my tent and walked up to the shelter where I made breakfast and used the privy. I was hoping my tent would dry out a bit by the time I returned but there was no such luck. I packed up my wet tent said goodbye to Buttercup who was just getting out of hers and began hiking up the hill toward Grayson Highlands Park. I saw several nobo hikers but none that stopped to talk. I stopped at Old Orchard shelter for a snack and water and when I opened the shelter log to write in it I happened to see Wildlife's entry back in November. I took a picture of it to post to Instagram and tag her. There was a lot of climbing today but I feel strong and I wasn't bothered as much by it until I got into the rocks, roots and mud. The elevation didn't bother me as much as that did. The old nerve in my right foot didn't like it at all and I could feel the cramping of my toes. I had told myself that I'd rest at the top of the climb but instead I stopped at the closest rock and climbed up on it to rest and enjoy some crackers with peanut butter. When I finished and hopped down resuming my hike the cramping was gone and didn't return for the rest of the day. I came to an open area with a gate and a hiker on the other side of the gate asked if I was Puddles. Rick has no trail name yet but he'd met River and has a picture of me so he recognized me. We talked for a few minutes before hiking away. Not long after I saw my first ponies! Milling and grazing about in the brush and not close to me but they were there. I hope to see more tomorrow. I arrived at the trail junction that would lead me to Massie Gap and called Dennis from the Grayson Highlands general store and Inn to let him know that I'd be in the Gap shortly for pickup. I hiked down the .6 mile side trail and waited in the parking area for him while observing some commotion with law enforcement pick up trucks. I was early and the weather was warm and sunny. I really need a short sleeve shirt and I don't have one with me.Dennis arrived and drove me to the Inn but along the way he stopped to talk to one of the law enforcement trucks who was approaching from the other direction. The commotion was about a hiker who fell on trail and broke his arm. He was hiking north and was near a shelter 3+ miles from the gap and hiking to the Gap so Dennis could get him to the hospital. The law enforcement officer was inclined to hike in because it was taking a long time to get the hiker out. At the Inn Dennis got me settled in and Phyllis made me an awesome Burger and fries which I washed down with a yuengling lager. Then I retreated to my room, showered and put on my finest laundry attire, my rain gear, before getting my laundry done and spreading my tent out in the sunny back yard to dry. Reality has started to hit me. I've hiked 2,000 miles. WOW! I worked on reserving a bed at Crazy Larry's Hostel in Damascus and he said he'd have a bucket of pig brains waiting on me for dinner. He's a hoot! Can't wait to meet him. I watched an episode of Dateline before turning off the TV.