Date: 2010-06-01
From: Rock Fish Gap

To: Wild Cat Trail Campground
Miles today: 14.7

Spent the night updating my journal and uploading pictures. Kiwi and GQ are here from NJ. They started there and are hiking south until they have to return to college. Lazy is also here. He's a southbound flip-flopper. Hiker Bill looks like a cross between Mr. McGoo and Gilligan. The cots were ridiculously loud with every movement. Jibbits couldn't sleep at all. The church hostel is very friendly to us. Dwayne was really talkative this morning. He was a zombie when he came in, completely antisocial and he passed out at 7pm. He does mega miles per day, like 30. They're kicking us out of here at 9am. We have to clean up after ourselves. I enjoy the domestic chores now, like cleaning up and washing dishes. Awesome concept. I like it when they put the responsiblity on us to be appreciative.Packed up and called Bill Combs. He's a local trail angel who provides free shuttles back to Rockfish Gap. He's a retired pharmacist with two companys in the area. He dropped me off at the highway and I leave Waynesboro. Many good memories here with Lish. I'm definitely a fan of this small town, they made me feel welcome. The YMCA shower. The campground all to ourselves! The way the ducks and turtles lulled us to sleep by diving in the pond all night. The way Lish smelled and felt warm on my back when I scooted next to her when I got cold. Coffee at Wieseys. Wearing Lish's plaid blanket while I washed my laundry. All the goodies Lish made me for my resupply. Hearing about her worries. Telling me about her concerns. The way we talk about the future. All of these things are on my mind this morning. Swimming through the cool water of the Sherando lake. How nice Lish was to all of my friends. How she is always so open minded and nonjudgemental. She's my hero and my inspiration.I see a 6ft long black snake baking in the sun. I decide to try my new found snake handling abilities! Face my fears. Pick it up! I touched his tail and I could feel the muscles in his body contract! He snapped away and coiled up in quites the impressive little aggresive stance. This made me behave like an amature snake handler. I was nervous. So I gave up.Hiking not spectacular in the least. Sat by the intersection of the trail and the first shelter. Listened as a storm approached. Thought over my options while eating a Granny Smith apple from the church. Thought about those blueberry, macadamian nut cookies that a trail angel sent to the church hostel. The lightening in the sky suggested I take a break, so I ran 0.3m to the shelter. I sat out the storm drawing a picture of me split in half, one side was a scientist clothed in a laboratory coat, and the other side was me wearing only a pair of shorts with a huge beard and long hair. I wrote "tistneics dam, eht yippkS" above it. Landfill, Brooklyn, Stitch, Cheese and Supermax sitting this one out. Weather cleared and I told them to laugh at me when the storm retured after I left the confines of the shelter. They promised me they would. I would have, as a matter of fact I have.Not so though. Clear skys! never fails that I have to walk under humming high voltage wires anytime it rains. Mtn. Laurel is EXPLODING here. Nausatingly fresh smell. I expect my nose to start bleeding at any moment from all the pollen. Stopped at Saw Mill overlook and felt sleepy. After being harassed by the park service for my credenitials, I fell asleep quite soundly under a shade tree for 2 hours! Michigan, Cricket, BooBoo and Southpaw wake me up hooping and hollering. We hike to Wildcat Trail and camp out. Took me a while to pick a spot. Had Lish's spegghetti meat sauce that she dehydrated! Wow, project successful! Well done! Fine dinner! very palatable.Settled down to read "Ismael". A doe and fawn came within 15ft of us. Tempted to throw granola, but don't want to attract pests. Tonight will be a good one for ear plugs. All those noises going bump in the night. Snapping limbs. Rustling leaves. Nuh uh! The whippoorwill was right above my head thinks I should be wearing ear plugs also. This "Ismael" books is awesome! I have a horrible feeling it's going to change my life. I hear Michigan bet a box of cereal that 12% of the people left on the trail will quit because of the flies we've yet to encounter. Water low. 6 miles to next spring.