Date: 2017-04-14
From: Dickey Gap, VA

To: Campsite near Marion, VA
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

Last night ranks high on the list of the poorest night's sleep on the AT. The traffic noise did decrease, but in a way that only made it all the more disturbing when a big truck would reach the top of the hill, and there would be a roar of engine noise as it changed gears. I was glad I'd set my alarm for 5:45. I broke camp as quickly and quietly as possible and was on my way by 6:45. I had had no phone coverage for the last several nights so was glad to find a high spot relatively soon where I could send text messages to Gayle, who would be meeting me with her dad, Jake, at a road crossing. After six miles, I breezed past the first option, a paved road, and continued on another four to the next crossing, of a gravel road. I was about 45 minutes early, and Gayle and Jake duly arrived in a rented red Jeep, Jake driving. We went back down the road to the town of Marion, where the first order of business was to do my laundry at a laundromat. We left the clothes to dry and headed to Walmart for a few items Gayle hadn't brought off a list I'd sent her. Then we headed back to pick up my laundry, before hunting down a Macados for lunch. I ordered a pitcher of lemonade for me and their 16-oz "Boomer Burger" and fries. By the time I'd finished all that and a cookies and cream milkshake, I was full. By contrast, neither Jake nor Gayle ate much more than half their orders. And they had no milkshakes. One thing Gayle brought me was a belt - very necessary to hold up my hiking pants as I'm shedding so much weight. Then it was back to the pick-up point to resume my hike. Gayle was remarkably controlled when it came time to part; she just got Jake to take a few photos and reminded me to take my vitamins. I had offloaded my now too-warm sleepwear, beanie, gloves and a big tub of Vaseline, and somehow managed to fit the lighter sleepwear and about nine days'-worth of food into my pack. Shortly after I set off back on the trail, the problematic buckle of my left shoulder-strap broke in two. I knotted the strap to the loop the buckle was attached to so that that strap could do some of the load-bearing. I am now convinced I will need to replace my backpack (an Osprey Exos large) with the small version when I get off the trail in Richmond. I unhurriedly bridged the four-mile gap to the next shelter, the Partnership Shelter, where I'd planned to take a shower, but the showers are only turned on once winter is over, and I guess it's still winter then, despite the heat. Just before the shelter, I passed a couple already bedded down for the night in their sleeping bags, no tent - what is called 'cowboy camping' - it didn't look very wintry. I rocked on for a couple of miles more, and pitched my tent high up on a ridge, glad to be alone. I filled my bear-proof food bag and a stuff bag with all my edibles and somehow was able to hoist the dual load aloft into the trees. I made an experimental repair to one of my gaiters, replacing the torn retaining strap that goes under the boot with some of the excess cord I have for my bear bag hoisting, and settled down to get caught up on at least three days of journals, since I have coverage up here on this piece of the AT. Joy. Tipperary