Date: 2006-05-17
From: Jenkin's Shelter

To: Helvey's Shelter
Miles today: 13.8

Left out of Jenkins Shelter a little earlier than normal this morning at 8:15am to a slight uphill climb to Brushy Mountain. The good thing about a climb directly out of camp is your body warms up quickly and you can start shedding cloths. Here lately it has still been a little too cool to start out in short sleeves first thing in the mornings. After getting over Brushy Mountain we had to detour around a small section of trail due to a bridge that had been washed out during some bad weather back in March. There have been signs posted in the past couple of shelters stating this closure so we opted to go around. Once down on VA 615 at the camping area next to Laurel Creek there was a little Trail Magic. Rip informed us that the local church always keeps juice on ice at this location for thru hikers. It was such a blessing to have some cold juice with our midmorning snack, so many thanks for the magic. Our plan now was to make it to US/21 so we could hitch into town for some supplies and to grab a good meal somewhere. Our first few attempts for a ride failed so Jane and Baro decide to start walking the 2.5 miles into Bland, VA while H-Bomb, Shasta, and I decide to wait on a ride. Thankfully a guy headed into town for some lunch gave us a lift and stopped for Jane on the way. As the four of us were pilled in the back of this little Tacoma we tried to stop for Baro when we saw him but another car was right on our bumper so Baro ended up finishing the 2.5mile hike that he had started into town. Once in town we hit up Subway for a much needed foot long sandwich with everything you could possibly get on it. With the main course out of the way we headed over to Dairy Queen for help with the ice cream cravings. I ordered the biggest soft serve ice cream I could get and enjoyed every bite of it. Ice cream seems to be one of the cravings you get while out hiking and sometimes it is days before you can get some. After a quick stop in Dollar General it was back off to the trail. Jane, Baro, and Chardonnay hitched a ride with a little lady that had no intentions of carrying more people because as soon as I headed to the truck she pulled off leaving me standing there pack in hand with no ride. That¢s ok though because Shasta, H-Bomb, and I got a ride shortly after and met back up with everyone at the trailhead. Come to find out the little lady that just left me standing there was afraid of being robbed and only had intentions of giving Chardonnay a ride when everyone else started piling in her truck. From town to the shelter was a quick 2.5mile hike because we all had full bellies and didn't have to cook dinner when we got there. This gave us a little time to sit around before dark and enjoy ourselves.H-bomb found a book in the shelter on 'The Fridge' that played for the ChicagoBears several years back and gave us a story time. I never knew that Auburn had interest in him and he choose Clemson. It is always great to learn new interesting facts while out on the Trail. Tonight we have: Shasta, H-Bomb, Jane, Baro, Chardonnay, Cabernet, Scarecrow, Mule, and myself at Helveys Mill Shelter for the night. Off in the distance we can hear the traffic from I/77 and the rain dancing on the tent roof so off to bed I go.