Date: 2013-06-05
From: Captain's

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 2.5
Weather: scattered clouds

June 5th2.5 milesEnd at Bailey Gap ShelterWe check out of the motel at 10:30am and walk a mile to Enterprise rental car. As half-expected they will not rent a car to us because neither of us have a VA driver license and/or a major credit card. The lady behind the counter suggests I try the Nissan dealership a block further down the street. I keep my hopes low but we give it a shot anyways. The Nissan dealership gives us the same answer but with different reasons. I consider calling a taxi but the fees would be too outrageous. We find a different on ramp to hitch and this time we wisely create a sign instead of just thumbing. 45 minutes go by and I begin to think I'm going to be stuck living in Wytheville, VA for the rest of my life. I begin rambling non-sensible jibberish out loud and shockingly a nice big truck pulls over. Just our luck too, this guy is not weird, he has a nice spacious truck, he isn't trying to bang Smirks like the previous driver, and best of all he is headed a little past the exit we need. From that exit we get a quick hitch 13 miles into Damascus and amazingly Smirks' car is still safe and not towed or broken into. Success in my book!Smirks is now Sarah again. She drives me back to the trail after we share one last meal together. As soon as I get out of her car at Captain's house, I hear somebody yell my name. My initial glee turns to an eye roll after I turn around to see Rambles walking in my direction. I give him a forced hello as he starts trying to bum stuff off of us. He soon walks away after we decline to enable his continual bumming ways. A quick hug and goodby to Sarah then I'm zip lining back to the trail in no time. I am dealing with mixed emotions. I feel like if I don't get into the woods fast then I might end my trip. The long ride back and forth and the time away from the trail brought back my initial fears from night number 1. When I'm accustomed to the trail day in and out I have a positive outlook and confidence. When I remove myself from the trail and see the mountains or an intense view from a far then I become overwhelmed. It's late so I don't get far but I do get away from the road and that helps me commit to staying on the trail. The wind is consistent and rain is being predicted for overnight into the next morning. I am hiking all alone. I miss Sarah more than I thought I would. I wonder how long I will have to battle this feeling. I try to hike faster but there is no escaping my sadness. I wonder to myself what am I doing out here, how much longer can I keep this up, what's the point in anything? I hike on. Lots of hikers stayed back at the Captain's and I don't expect to see anyone at the shelter I'm hiking towards. I am thankfully surprised when I get there and see Survivor and Zack Galifinakis sitting at a picnic table surrounded by a camp fire and 4 other people. Survivor recently had to deal with his hiking partner leaving the trail so he understands how I feel and gives me sympathy and condolences about solo hiking and losing Smirks. Zack G makes jokes to temporarily cheer me up a little. The rest of the night's discussion is bear related. A bear was spotted .20 miles from this shelter hours ago by Survivor and there are claw marks on the trees so we all get nervous about tonight. I hang my food bag on Survivor and Zack's bear line. The wind is at a constant roll all night. I sleep in my tent and of course get spooked out with every noise.