Date: 2003-08-20
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Buchanan
Miles today: 10.1

I woke up a few times early in the morning and seeing it was still dark outside I kept going back asleep. I didn't realise I had my fleece liner over my head and it was actually around 9am..... What a plonker !!! I had wanted to get an early start to get into town as soon as possible, Never mind.. I sat down, ate my breakfast and chatted away to David who had made me another cup of tea. As it turned out he is a 'Pastor' at a 'Presbetarian Church' in Keeling Va. He wrote me a note that I could take to any Presbetarian Church if I needed help of any kind. He said it would be seen as almost a 'professional favour' among other 'Pastors' and they would only be to pleased to help out with anything. I thanked him alot for both the note and the teas and made my way into Buchanan. The plan for Buchanan was a very simple one, laundry, groceries, post office and hitch back to the trail.... Wham Bam thankyou mam, job done !!! After making an absolute pig of my-self in Burger King and having the lady laugh at me when I went back to the register for my 4th order I made my way to the laundromat. There was no change machine in the laundromat, so I went next door to the bar to see if they could help me out. When the guys at the bar saw I was a hiker and heard my accent they invited me to join them for a beer. I said I had alot to sort out but would be glad to join them for ONE BEER..... I was still there 3 hours later and sipping sway on at least my 8th beer!!!! In keeping with the great hospitality the American people have shown me so far, my glass was never empty and I was never allowed to buy a drink. One of the guys who's name was Glenn invited me back to stay at his house for the night and that he would have his wife cook me a meal. So I greatfully eccepted the offer and headed off to Lexington, Glenn was a very interesting character. He's partially deaf due to a 'Mortor' explosion during his service in 'Vietnam'. He is a retired Architect and likes to spend his days drinking beer and fishing. Once at his house he asked me if I had ever used fire-arms. I told him about my experience in 'Cambodia'. In the capital 'Phnom Phen', they have s shooting range directly under the flight path and about 1 mile away from the 'International Aiport'. They serve beer and let you fire AK-47's and Rocket Launchers. He found this very amusing to think you could legally get pissed, fire Rocket Launchers and passenger aircraft where less than 200ft above your head!!!! He went into the house and came back with a .22 rifle, some bullets, a mirror and an empty beer can. He placed the beer can 30 feet away, sat in the opposite direction with the gun on his shoulder and using the small make-up mirror to aim with shot the beer can. ' Very impressive'. But all the time he was trying to aim up the gun, his neighbour drove past and his wife returned with the food, so any number of people could have got shot!!! Now it way My Turn. I had had at least 10 beers by this point so the last thing I should be doing is firing a gun, even a .22, but I am game for anything and took up aim and shot the damn beer can directly in the middle!!!! Who's Da Man !!! We went in ate dinner and continued to drink beer after beer all night long. Glenn showed me his 1978 Triumph Bonneville. It has only 3 and a half thousand miles on the clock and is immaculate. Almost a shame for it to be in storage. After even more beer I got to bed around 12am.