Date: 2010-06-10
From: Dutch Haus B&B

To: Dutch Haus B&B
Miles today: 21.9

Just because it looks like I started and finished at the Dutch Haus, that does not mean I didn't go anywhere! Last night I had the most amazing dinner, probably the best on the trail. I had little nachos (fairly healthily made) as a starter, then a salad as an entree (or appetizer as you say in the States), it had baby spinach leaves, cos leaves, sliced olives, peas, beans, croutons and a white sauce. It was heavenly. As a main, we had roast chicken with potatoes (thankfully not mashed!), a white gravy, corn on the cob and some kind of beans and stuffing mixture. The portion was enormous. Then for dessert was a banana and choc chip tart. Not normally my style but I think it was homemade (as was the rest of the meal) so that made the difference. I felt stuffed in a great way after the food. So much nutrition. That's when I realised that I should stay another night and slackpack the next day. The things I do for food!So this morning, I had home cooked breakfast of an egg fritata with a meat patty that I think the Americans call a sausage with salsa, a piece of "stuffed French toast" (with strawberries), a little muffin or cupcake, a piece of watermelon and a tortilla with melted cheese. The only part of the breakfast, which although delicious, was not so much for me, was the tortilla because I eat them every day! Anyway, breakfast made me realise that I had chosen well to stay here!Earl, the owner, dropped me off 21.9 miles away from the B&B so that I could walk back at my leisure. I started at 830 which is a late start for me but an early start compared to most B&B's shuttles. I decided to count the number of hikers going Northbound (which is my normal direction, this time I was Southbound so in the opposite direction) because Lois (Earl's wife) had said that at yesterday's free lunch for hikers at the B&B they had 20 people which was the record for the season. By the end of the day I had counted 47 people. I felt like I was on a highway! It was amazing! I think a lot are pushing to Waynesboro to watch the World Cup. Apparently the US is playing some other team, I forget who. The Americans are actually really excited about it and really seem to care about it. I thought that they were only into baseball, basketball and American football.I had a huge descent to the Tye River then a huge climb to a place called the Priest. I felt like the descent and climb went on forever and ever and that was all I was doing all day. People kept telling me it wasn't far to go but they were lying!! I found it a reasonably hard day today and I was very glad not to have my full backpack as that would have been a lot harder. I forgot to mention that I met a man called "Chef Glen" at a shelter a few nights ago. I saw his backpack and I thought that it looked like the model of Ray Jardine, my lightweight hiking god. Indeed, he had it made based on Ray's instructions. He also has a lightweight tarp made following Ray's guidance and an umbrella which is Ray's idea of rain gear. It was great to see all this homemade gear, the tarp in particular was very impressive. Glen is called Chef Glen because of his amazing homemade dehydrated food. People salivate when they see it. This evening upon my return to the B&B, Chef Glen gave me a pack of food. It is a day's worth of homemade dehydrated food. I feel so lucky to have such amazing trail magic. There was beef stroganoff, banana and nut cake, trail mix and other delicious looking things. I'll use a fire to heat water to rehydrate the food. He has a website so I'll let you know the link once he gives it to me.Finally, I'll be in Waynesboro tomorrow after a 19 mile day. After that I head to the Shennandoh National Park. Plenty of bears there but it is very flat walking so I'm hoping for some slighty higher mileage (nothing crazy though!).