Date: 2012-05-24
From: 3 Ridge Parking Overlook

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: light rain

SOS got off to a little earlier start than usual as he was doing an 18 mile day and friends from Fort Wayne, Dave and Anne, were coming at 7pm. Edith Chloe had a new route for me going back to the room and it was lovely! No interstate at all...wow...what a treat! I stopped in Stuart's Draft to resupply at the Dollar General. Water, juice, fruit, hard candies, cookies...all for Trail Mama's travelling trail magic. On to a yarn shop that was hard to find but I did it!! and yes, I bought one skein of sale yarn.. Back at the room, I did a little organizing and cleaning out of our supplies. I also worked on my pin cushion sent to me by Ann Warren until I LOST the needle! Bummer! And it was coming along so nicely!! I called Dave and Anne to give them directions and then went to pick up SOS by the kettle corn stand. This time I resisted the wonderful smell and just ate an apple...not nearly so good tasting but better nutritionally. Here came SOS after an 18+ day...I was very glad to see him moving along so well. We gave Big Sky and Alpo a ride to the Quality Inn in Waynesboro. What a blessing in disguise because who should we see there but our "kids" GQ and Maxsis!! They said that they recognized our car but thought I should put Trail Mama on both sides in PINK!! I will take that suggestion under advisement:-) Back to our room where we arrived 2 minutes before Dave and Anne drove in. After they settled in, we all got in their car and went off to find some dinner. We ate at Kathy's restaurant and then returned to our rooms. Brenda, one of the managers at Days Inn was very helpful and is not charging us holiday rates for this weekend. So we decided to stay put for the next few days. We made the plan for tomorrow and thus ends another day on the trail!The ROAD NAME of the day is: TINKLING STREAM ROAD It just sounds so peaceful...SOS here:Last night I would have given no chance that I would hike today. My shin splint was making my leg ache and I could barely walk. When I got up this morning the pain was almost completely gone.Trail Mama took me back to where I got off the trail last night. We agreed that the pickup point would be either the Humpback visitors center or Rock Fish Gap depending on how the leg felt.As I passed my first road crossing I saw "Big Sky". She was talking on the phone - I would learn later that she was talking to her Mother."Big Sky" was struggling with the day after day hiking. The trail wears you down physically and emotionally. I told "Big Sky" that yesterday was a tough day for me" - I missed hiking with my children or a friend, my shin ached all day and rain was just around the corner all day. I was very disappointed that I only hiked 11.2 miles and by evening was very worried that my injury might somehow shorten my thru hike.I learned today that a physical ailment has claimed two more of my friends "Steppin Out" and Taggin along" I will miss their smilinbg faces.I sure was happy that "Big Sky wanted to hike with me and I had company all day. I hope she makes it - we exchanged phone numbers so if she needs to hike slower we can hike together. Keep praying for Trail Mama and me - please send us a message on the guest book. Thanks