Date: 2018-05-18
From: US 501 (Glasgow, VA)

To: US 60 Buena Vista
Miles today: 22.0

DAY 73The day was a little rushed, we had to pay the person running the hostel. All hikers were trying to get ready which meant the one bathroom was constantly busy. We paid, grabbed our stuff, almost forgetting our water and left over pizza as the shuttle driver was in the car waiting on us.We were dropped off back at the James River Bridge along with Sailor Pete. Started out with rain gear on and pack covers on, we knew we were in for a wet day. Big climb right off the bat as we headed up Big Rocky Row and on to Bluff Mountain.We made it to the Ottie Cline Powell monument and Mary left the cross necklace she had found earlier on as a tribute to Ottie. No views for us today. As we moved on we saw Batman and his dog Bella (Robin) as well as another couple hikers eating their lunch.Stopped at Punch Bowl Shelter for lunch, which was already crowded with hikers getting out of the rain to eat their lunch. We ate standing outside under the overhang, attempting to stay a little dry. The group in the shelter were all spread out and didn't offer to consolidate their stuff so others could get out of the rain. There were three older men who were waiting to get into the shelter as they were planning on staying for the night. Sailor Pete was already in the shelter, and his plan was to stay there for the night as well.We felt bad for a Phoebe that had somehow managed to build her nest in the shelter. She was desperately trying to get to her nest, but the hikers in the shelter were loud and some were standing, so she couldn't make it in. We ate quickly and decided to push on.Throughout the day we had our rain gear on at times and off at other times. Our original plan was to camp at the reservoir road campsite area, but when we arrived we realized the site was actually a couple tenths back. Mary wanted to soak her feet, so we went back to the road and found a spot where she could get to the water. Their she stood with her rain jacket on and feet in the cold water of Pedlar River. The decision was made to try to reach Buena Vista where we could hopefully get a ride to a hotel where we could get a hot shower and dry out.Mary was hiking hard, trying to reach Buena Vista. We were both pretty hungry and she decided to grab a bag of Fritos to eat as she hiked. Bad idea, she inhaled a Frito and was choking and coughing until she was finally able to cough up most of the Frito.We passed the 800 mile mark today, and previous hikers had "written" 800 in Rhododendron flowers at that point along the trail, very nice.As we hiked by the Brown Mountain Creek Shelter we could see hikers in the shelter as well as many camped in various spots along the river. Some hikers were sitting outside under their umbrellas. We hiked on, and the rain got heavier. We reached US 60 as darkness was falling. We crossed the road and got under the kiosk and put on headlamps so we could call for a ride. Tried calling a shuttle, but no answer. So, we called the E's-y Rider Cab Company. They said they would send someone out if we were sure we would be there. Apparently earlier hikers called them for a ride but must of got a hitch, so they got there only to find no hikers. The driver told us this was her third trip there for the day, and we were the first hikers to actually be there when she arrived. We told the cab driver we had called for a room in Buena Vista, The Buena Vista Motel was full and there was one room left at the Budget Inn. We were going to stay at the Budget, however she advised we might be more comfortable in one of the Lexington Hotels, so we headed in that direction while we tried calling hotels to see if we could get a room. Unfortunately, there were graduations going on, so most of the hotels were full. Those that were not full were pricey. We ended up at the Econolodge, unfortunately in a smoking room. So, all our stuff now smells like cigarette smoke combined with a baby powder scent from a spray the cab driver gave us. A very bad combination of smells that we hope we will eventually be able to get out. Mary knew better than to spray any kind of "air freshener" as all it does is give her a headache, but she was hoping the baby powder smell would be better than the cigarette smoke.We hung up our rain gear, took showers, ordered pizza delivery and headed to bed. Our biggest mileage yet, and it is a 1% day as we did 1% of the total trail in one day. We did it carrying a four day resupply as we were not sure how far we would be going and where our next resupply would be.