Date: 2016-05-12
From: Marble Spring Campsite

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: light rain

I packed up my wet gear the best I could. Hopefully the sun will come out later and I can lay out my tent to dry. Of course with everything wet that adds weight to my load...not good. We will try for Punchbowl Shelter today, 18 miles. It turned out to be a nice hiking day, foggy and damp just like the other mornings and then it started clearing up. There wasn't a lot of sun but it was clear. I came up to Matts Creek Shelter then Matts trail. That made me think of my son Matt then all of the kids. I really do miss them. I will be leaving the trail in early June to go to my Class reunion and of course I get to see my wife, grandson, and family. Hopefully my son Matt can come into town so I can spend time with him before heading back to the trail. My wife and I usually take all of our kids on a family vacation once a year. I am not sure it will happen this year but those are fun times. Wish they could all come up and hike with me for a couple of days. Since there has been a lot of rain, the creeks are swollen and running very nicely. Hiking by and next to these creeks is very enjoyable. Today I hiked by a flowing creek with loud little falls and cascades then it went off into what I though was a lake in the distance, the trail got a bit closer and realized it was James River. I came across a Ridge Runner and spoke with him for a while. Ridge Runners have an AT uniform and are volunteers who oversee certain sections of the trail. As I moved on I crossed over the longest footbridge on the AT. It crossed over the James River. From there the trail went up and I was over the clouds again at Big Rocky Row View. I took a picture of a rock and tree and I could see nothing but clouds beyond. All through the hikes since Daleville the plants have been blooming more and more which makes for colorful foliage. Different kinds of flowers seem to be popping up each day. I went down then back up to Bluff Mountain where there looks to be a gigantic golf ball teed up but it is an FAA tower. I knew that the shelter was close. I reached Punchbowl Shelter at 5pm, Crisscross and Sunray were in the shelter already. Aurora, Conumdrum, Oriole, Juan Durer, Sweet Potato, Farmer, Aristotle and another 72 year old section hiker named George camped. We were joined in the shelter with a mother-daughter team section hiking, and two ladies from Florida who were also section hiking. One of the Florida ladies was also 72 years old and had done several section hikes. She wanted to do the whole thing but her family would not let her, they did not even want her to do sections but she is doing well. We had a lot of conversation that night. I spoke to the mother who said that they are on a 5 week section hike. This is the second year they have done this. Her daughter is challenged and has anxiety attacks and is 14 years old. The mom says when she gets on the trail the anxiety problems do not occur...the trail is very therapeutic. This is the second mom I have met on the trail who brings her "challenged" child out for section hiking and I just applaud what they do. Parents in general go above and beyond what they ever thought they could do just for their children but, having a challenged child, it is just extraordinary what some parents do. I had dinner using my stick fork. I finished and cleaned up then when I got my tooth brush out guess what I found...MY REAL SPORK!!! I have been eating for 3 nights with a stick!! We all had a good laugh about that. I laid down just before dark and could hear Juan D playing the ukulele so I got up and walked over. Aristotle had made a fire and Conundrum, Farmer and Oriole were sitting around it talking I joined them as did the 72 year old lady, George and Crisscross. Good conversation, good company and good setting with the music in the background. Another wonderful night on the trail. I got to sleep later and of course it rained and rained and rained.