Date: 2008-04-10
From: Trimpi Shelter (2900')

To: Relax Inn near Atkins, VA
Miles today: 22.4
Weather: clear sky

We all got up early to allow time for pizza and time in Atkins. I was out around 7:20 after 4 pop tarts and the hike was fairly easy. There were ups and downs, it was nice out, and I cruised the first 10.6 in about 3 hrs. Partnership Shelter is near a visitors center that you can order pizza to which we took full advantage of and we ended up ordering $45 worth of food w/ tip and delivery charge. After I ordered I called Esra and found out about her plans for after college. They are still in the early stages but she is thinking grad school at a couple of places or working and then going to school. All her options sound good. We waited a little more for pizza and when it arrived we chowed down. Dynamite and I split a large BBQ chicken pizza and some funnel cake with cherrys while Shep ate a small pizza with about 6 different toppings to himself. We also split a 2 liter of Pepsi (Shep and I) and when I went back to the visitors center for water I ate a snickers bar. Dynamite is staying either at Partnership shelter or in a nearby town tonight due to a nasty blister on his heel. His new shoes I guess caused it. Its the first time in a couple hundred miles that Dynamite and I will be staying at different places. I'm sure I'll see him shortly, he moves pretty quick, but it is possible his foot keeps bothering him and he ends up further back. Either way I hope it heals up and doesn't affect his journey too much. I headed out around 1 PM for Atkins after a 2 hr 45 min break for pizza. It was sitting heavy in my stomach and I kept burping BBQ chicken pizza. It was like I was getting seconds on pizza for a couple of miles. The rest of the hike continued to be pretty gradual and the end towards where we were stopping was open and had lots of birds everywhere. A heron flew away from me at one point and there was another colorful bird I hadn't seen yet that was chirping and flying from bush to bush farther away so I never got a good look. I also saw 2 deer earlier in the day one of which Dynamite also saw and was the first time this trip he had seen one. We arrived at the Relax Inn around 4:30. If we hadn't taken that pizza break we would've gotten in around 2:00. Waking up early makes a big difference and its getting easier now that its not as cold out. I got some sun on my arms and legs and possibly burned them. There were 5 beers in the hiker box which I put on ice and helped myself to and also some mountain house or similar brand dinners which Shepherd and I split. After showers and some relaxing as well as planning the next couple of days we went to eat dinner and resupply. I got pork chops with mashed potatoes, potato salad, apple sauce, and a roll as well as polished off Shepherd's burger. We ran into Pouge and Dropkick who were thru-hikers also coming in to eat. They said they were hanging out on a hill by the interstate instead of staying at the Relax Inn (which they stayed at the night before). They said they had some whiskey and beer so I'll have to check out their spot later. We resupplied at a gas station which was tough but we were able to get enough, just not many choices. I dropped my stuff off and went to go meet Pouge and Dropkick. Pouge is from TN and thru-hiked in '06 and had planned on hiking the PCT this year but when his brother started on the AT this year he changed his plans and has been doing the AT again and was meeting his brother tonight. Dropkick is from GA and has been hiking with Pouge for a while. I hung out with them for a little bit and it was nice to meet some hikers that were outside of the group I had been with for a while. Pouge's brother showed up and he left with them to take a few days off and later I left. Dropkick was still debating whether to go or not. I stopped at the gas station on my way back and bought a pint of ice cream and some beef jerky. I chatted with a couple who had done a lot of camping in the area. I'm realizing how much of the country I get to see. The trail seems to cut through the nicest outdoors of every state and so far I'm getting to see all of it. I got back to the room ate the ice cream and a couple candy bars I bought which I'll replace later which I walk past the gas station in the morning. I'm just watching TV in a comfy bed slowly getting ready for more hiking.