Date: 2003-04-30
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: VA 606/Trent's Grocery
Miles today: 16.3

I had both sides of weather today. This morning was beautiful, partly cloudy, with some good sunshine, a little hazy, but some views. The hiking was fairly easy too, with rolling hills instead of sharp mountains to climb.Hotdog and I thought Fly and Smoothie were behind us, and we'd missed them somehow last night, so we lollygagged around camp and finally got on the trail at 9:45am. At our first break we met a southbounder and he said Fly and Smoothie were ahead. I hiked a little quicker, but didn't catch them until lunch at the next shelter, Jenny Knob Shelter, 9.8 miles from where we started the day. It was about 1:30pm. I'd tried to leave a message in the trail for Hotdog, saying "shelter for lunch", but he didn't see it, and had lunch before the shelter. He came rolling in about the time I was finishing up, and Fly, Smoothie and PopPop were about to leave. PopPop had an idea of going to a little grocery/deli that was less than a mile off the road, 6.4 miles north. His thought of beer stuck in my mind, and I wanted to do the same. We all thought we'd camp by a creek, next to the road, and if time allowed, head to the store packless. Hotdog said he'd be along shortly, and may not go to the store, so I took off about 20 minutes after the other three.We'd heard some rumbling in the sky, and I know I was hoping that's all there was to it. But Mother Nature had other plans. I hiked for almost 2 miles before the raindrops began, and had my packcover on already, but got my hat and rain jacket ready. When the heavy rain started, I decided to just put on the hat and skip the rain jacket. After all, I was climbing a hill, and sweating so much, I didn't think the rain jacket was any better for keeping me dry. Besides, I'd get a free shower, right?Ha! A COLD free shower! Actually, a full-fledged thunderstorm. It wouldn't have been so bad except, after the climb, the trail followed ridges for quite a while. There's nothing like a thunderstorm to move me across the ridges! I was a little nervous walking within 10 feet of a metal power line tower during the storm, but kept hiking.Soon I came upon a pack, laying in the middle of the trail. I recognized it as PopPop's, then saw him squatting just down off the ridge. I thought "What a heck of a time to have a nature call!" Then, I realized he wasn't squatting, he was sitting on a rock. He saw me, and I asked where the others were, meaning Fly and Smoothie. He said "I don't know", thinking I was talking about some of the guys that were at the shelter for lunch too. Then he pointed in front of him, and said "C'mon down." I stumbled down there, to find Fly and Smoothie, sitting under a big rock. I joined them, and we all waited out the lightning. There was a small amount of hail as well, and Fly and Smoothie had shared my theory of not wearing rain gear. The three of us huddled in the cold rain, and PopPop just had to get a picture!When the lightning seemed farther away, we headed out, with one thing on our minds: Go to Trent's. Go directly to Trent's. Do not set up camp. We did just that. The rain had let up quite a bit, but drizzle was still falling. We got to the road, made an arrow out of sticks for Hotdog, and headed west to the store. Not far along, Push and Shove, two section hikers from Florida who we'd seen most of the last 7 days hiking southbound, drove by in their two vehicles. They pulled over, and the four of us climbed in the back of their truck for the rest of the trip to Trent's.There were many packs lined up outside, and for each pack, a hiker inside. Some informed of us the "procedure" at Trent's: They had a deli and grill (most hikers had pizza in front of them); the restroom in the store was out of order,but they'd allow changing in there; tenting was available for $3/person in a field, where restrooms and showers are available. It all sounded good to us! I ordered pizza, changed my shirt, took off my heavy, wet boots, and, once done, ate over half of my pizza. I felt much better with just a dry shirt on, and some warm food going in.As it turned out, about 10 hikers pitched tents in this field, once the rain stopped. Push and Shove parked their vehicles here too, and slept in their van. Push volunteered to take anyone to town that needed something, but no one needed to go. I asked if, after I changed out of my wet shorts, I could get a ride back to the trail to see if Hotdog was there, and tell him where we all were. She was willing, and before I could get my turn in the restroom to change, she'd driven down there and checked, but didn't see anyone. He might've stayed at the last shelter, especially with the storm threatening. I'm sure, if I don't see him today, I will see him in Pearisburg tomorrow and/or the next day.After we'd all set up our tents and got situated, Fly bought some beer and he, Smoothie, PopPop, Tn-man, and I sat at a table talking. Fly remarked that it's just another AT Experience to be tented at a convenience store. Smoothie added in "You know how people drive by roads and see other people camping next to old RVs in a field by a convenience store and they probably think 'Why would anyone came there?!? I'd rather camp in the woods!'? Well, that's what they probably think of us!" So true! When in the woods, I think about town things, and when in town, I think about the woods. When will I be satisfied with where I am?And Smoothie is right... I've become a bum, camping near road crossings and streams, and now behind a little store. Ain't life grand???Yeah, it really is.