Date: 2013-05-18
From: Laurel Creek, Virginia Route 615

To: Unnamed camp site
Miles today: 20.0

May 18, day 55, mileage 20.0Last night, as told this morning by Eagle, there was a very large animal in our camp site. He started yelling and shining his light out of his tent. (I did not hear anything). He said that when he looked out of his tent, a deer looked up from eating about six feet away from him then went back to eating. Just another night on the AT.The trail all day today was a dream to walk. It was a smooth surface with gradual slopes. The first 7.1 miles went very quickly. Overall, I had a speed just over three miles per hour. That was with a heavier than normal pack due to extra water and a 700 foot climb to start the walk. There was no water available for the first 7.9 miles. Those who hike with me back home know I am much slower than this. I guess the slow guy is Dave. But out here I am BUCKEYE CORNELIUS! (Trumpets sound) ha, ha.At the end of the first 7.1 miles, Eagle and I took the road into town. He needed food and I was wanting some town food.Just a side note about my mileage management for the next few days. My girlfriend Jodie is going to come to visit from Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the following Monday morning. Even though my daily mileage the last few days is higher than normal, I will have to slow in order to be where I need to be next Friday. Since I did not need a high mileage day today (11 miles today would keep me right on track) I thought going into town would be fun.Hitchhiking near the AT is common. Eagle and I walked maybe 3/4 mile before a very nice guy picked us up and took us to town. He even gave each of us a Mountain Dew. We went first to Subway for lunch. Then we walked to Dollar General to get Eagle's resupply. While in town we had good cell reception. Eagle got an email from a thru hiking friend that he was laid up in Damascus with knee issues and that it was costing quite a bit of money to stay in town every night. Eagle had planned on going home in the next few days so he set it up with his wife to pick him up where we were and then drive to Damascus to pick up his friend. The plan was to have his friend stay at Eagle's house in West Virginia until he can continue the hike.As I was saying good bye to Eagle another nice man came out of Dollar General and asked if we needed a ride. Timing is everything. I was back on the trail in no time. I have only known Eagle for a few days but I really liked being around him in camp. I will miss him and hope to see him down the trail.The excursion into town took about 3 1/2 hours. The afternoon part of the hike was going much like this morning - fast. I figured I needed at least 11 miles today to be where I need to be next Friday but I was going to well to stop short at only four miles. Also, there is Trent's Grocery where Rocket Man and the Bumble Girls are going to have lunch tomorrow. Oh well, I might as well just catch them. That way we will all get to Trent's Grocery about the same time.In looking at the guide book, I knew that they would either be at a shelter 19 miles from our start today or at a camp site one mile further. After cruising through the hike this afternoon, I found them at the camp site. So today was a 20 mile day. I also made it to mile 600 on the AT.I need to be at mile 671 next Friday evening with a stop in Pearisburg, VA for my resupply. I am going to have to be creative over the next few days to get miles in without just wasting the days. I am trying at average about 15 miles per day, have a night in town about every six or seven days and have a zero day once every two weeks. Well, that is my plan. Like I said, I am going to have to do something creative.