Date: 2017-06-10
From: Thunder Hill Shelter Tent site

To: VA 130/James River Footbridge/Glasgow, Virginia 
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: broken clouds

6/10Thunder Hill Shelter Tent site to VA 130/James River Footbridge/Glasgow, Virginia 14.6 miles Total miles:  784.9I woke up and got going early this morning, because I needed to be in the town of Glasgow today for resupply.  Due to not getting as far as planned yesterday, there were 14.6 miles to cover today, and it's important to get into town early enough to get everything done.  I made sure Gravity was awake as well, and we were ready to hit the trail by 7:00.  I headed out first and made good time the first six miles. I hiked awhile with Long Fish, whom I met last night.  He and I have identical hiking shirts, and it turns out he also runs marathons.  The similarity ends there, however, as his best time is 2 hours, 29 minutes (mine is 5 hours and 3 minutes).  Our hiking speeds ended up reflecting our running speeds, and he soon hiked away from me.  I participated in a bit of good luck/Trail magic today.  Yesterday, I came across a toothbrush lying on the trail.  It looked just like the one I had seen Red Eye using that morning at the campground, so I picked it up and placed it in a Ziploc bag to see if it was hers.  This morning, I came across her as she was leaving the Harrison Ground Spring camping area, three miles into my hike. She was in the process of getting on the trail; if I had been two minutes later, I never would have seen her since she hikes appreciatively faster than I do.  I asked her if she had lost her toothbrush, and she told me no, but that another hiker she camped with last night had.  So I was able to reacquaint this hiker with his toothbrush in a bit of dental trail magic.  Fortunately, I already have a trail name, or I might have become Tooth Fairy.  I made good time for the first six miles, but then the hike up Highcock Knob proved pretty difficult.  It was almost like getting reacquainted with an old friend, as the tough, rock scrambling climb was back. Although steep and rocky, the ascent was only for 1.2 miles, and the rest of the day was more like the new normal.  Gravity caught up with me at the top of Highcock Knob, and we arranged a shuttle for 3:30 from the trail at the James River Footbridge to Glasgow, which is five miles off trail.  We discussed hitching, but decided that for $15 for the pair of us, we would take the shuttle.  The rest of the day from the summit of Highcock Knob to the James River Footbridge was largely downhill.  There were some impressive views of the James River from high on the ridge, but these views did not lend themselves to photos due to the tree cover.  The last mile ran parallel to the James, which is a relatively large river.  The AT crosses the James on the longest foot-traffic only bridge on the trail.  Converted from an old railroad bridge, it is very impressive.  My understanding is that before this bridge was made available, hikers crossed the James on the highway bridge.  Gravity and I got to the bridge in plenty of time to take some photos.  Just after I crossed the bridge, a CSX train thundered by just a few feet from where I was standing.  The AT crosses under the bridge, so I also was able to stand under the train and feel the vibrations of its power.  We then got to the parking lot and visited with some kayakers until our shuttle driver arrived.  He took us into Glasgow, where we stayed at the free Hikers' Village.  The town of Glasgow provides free accommodations for hikers in the city park.  Built initially as an Eagle Scout project, the village consists of a pavilion with sleeping facilities, a tenting area, a hot shower, and privies.  I set up my tent and then took a shower.  Since there was no one else waiting to shower, I saved some time and money by washing my clothes in the shower. I hung them on the village's clothesline, to dry while I went to eat and resupply. Gravity and I ate at the local restaurant, which had delicious Italian food, and then resupplied at the two local grocery stores.  We need provisions to get all the way to Waynesboro, so my pack will be quite heavy for the four mile/2,300 foot elevation climb tomorrow morning. Before eating, however, I got my picture taken next to the large, fiberglass dinosaur that protects downtown Glasgow.  I'm not sure why it's there, but I bet it gets photographed a great deal.  I know that hikers benefit the local economy of Glasgow by shopping here and eating inordinate amounts of food at the local restaurant (I certainly did my part), but I feel Hiker Village is a wonderful gesture and is unlike any other place I have stayed on the trail. Gravity and I have an 8:00 shuttle scheduled back to the trail in the morning.  The temperature is forecast for the 90s tomorrow,  and for the first time, I am sleeping with my vestibule open.  Perhaps summer has finally arrived.  My good friend and hiking buddy, Mike, is meeting me in Waynesboro near the end of the week to hike the Shenandoahs with me.  More good times to come.  For now, it's time to go back to sleep to be ready for another day.