Date: 2007-06-09
From: Matts Creek shelter

To: Swapping Camp Creek - stealth
Miles today: 19.4

I got up early today and got going as soon as possible. I hate hot/humid days and hopefully it won¢t be the same as yesterday. This morning¢s hike was easy and almost level as the trail followed the James River until the foot bridge crossing. Tony Tiger, The Bag Lady and me all crossed the bridge within minutes of each other and met at the other side. We knew we had to hitch into town and decided to head for a parking area where our chance would be better. Before we got 200 yards down the road, two guys in a pickup truck stopped and gave us a ride into Glasgow. Awesome! The ride went good until we got ready to get out of the back. Somehow The Bag Lady got hooked by a couple fish hooks from the fishing poles in the back. After she was freed we stopped and had breakfast at the Tired Feet Caf©. It was a great breakfast! After breakfast it was time to go resupply at the store across the street. The lady in the store said it was 98 degrees yesterday. HOT!! I wanted to get out of town before I got sucked into any activities and before the rest of the gang arrived too. I am going to try to get ahead of everyone by about 5 days before July 4th. This way I won¢t be so far behind after a week off the trail to see my son. Tony is staying the weekend since Barb is coming for a visit so I will see him when he catches up to me later. Mate, Genesis, Kimchi, Luna, and Torpedo all arrived about the time I was ready to leave. Aristotle was here and was leaving too so we waited for the shuttle vehicle bringing Coach back so we can get a ride to the trail again. It was hard saying goodbye to everyone. I had hiked with them for so long that they are my trail family. I will miss them and the music every night.   We were dropped off at the trail head and off I go. My first stop is 1.5 miles in at Johns Hollow Shelter for some water and a short break. The next water source is 9 miles at the Punchbowl Shelter. I want to have full water on my way up to Bluff Mt if it¢s going to be hot again. I will drink more today than yesterday. My feet are feeling good today and I feel strong going uphill again. I meet a couple about half way up the mountain and stop for a brief hello before continuing on. I get to the top and there is a monument to Ottie Cline Powell, a four year old, who went out looking for firewood in 1890 and never returned to his schoolhouse. Nearby is also the foundation for an old tower of some kind and they make great seats to enjoy the views of the surrounding area. After a short break I continue on until I reach the Punchbowl Shelter for water and decide to eat dinner before moving on. I meet Spence and Tom, who have been out here for about a week already. I am happy to have met them often in the past week. I also met two south bound hikers, Meat Wad and Bad Influence Groundhog, today too. I wanted to do a long day today since I¢m feeling good and end up on the other side of Pedlars Lake at a stealth site near the creek. Brisk and Blaze were here already. I got here right at dusk and it got dark quickly. I¢m glad I ate earlier. I setup the hammock w/o the rainfly. It¢s clear and the fireflies are lighting up the night with the stars as I lay there and fall asleep. Awesome! Tenting: Brisk and Blaze, Handyman. Wx: hot/humid, temp - upper 80's.