Date: 2003-03-27
From: Pass Mountain Shelter

To: Jim & Molly Denton shelter
Miles today: 31.7
Weather: clear sky

Today was one of my best so far for numerous reasons first one being it was another day filled with blue skys and sunshine.I got some star treatment today in the way of my photo being took because people we so amazed at what I am doing and the weather I have been through to get here , believe or not I even gave my autograph to one lady who asked.Our first stop was a gas station on the parkway which like the rest of the stuff in the park was shut for the winter , although on inspection I could see people moving about in the building next to the gas station.I peered in the window and noticed a bag of fresh onions waiting to be sliced so I knocked on the door .......I was ignored so I moved round the front and knocked on the other door, this time an older frail gentleman shouted through the window that they were shut and would be opening for the summer season tommorow.......I replied that we would be 30 miles on by then!!!! he just shrugged his shoulders and walked off.As I was heading back in the direction of the picnic table where rocket was sitting 3 girls were heading in my direction who oviously worked in the store , so I stopped them in thier tracks and asked if it was at all possible for me to buy a good fresh american sandwich.I explained I had travelled 5000 miles by plane and walked nearly 900 miles to here and all I wanted was to sample some old good american cuisne   + I expained I was extremly hungry!!!!!!! they all laughed and just walked off.But low and behold 5 mins later rocket and I were enjoying a free breakfast with a group of females standing round chatting us up while we stuffed our faces.I set off soon after breakfast leaving rocket to hold back the girls while I made my getaway.....and I soon ran into a couple of cyclists by the name of laurie & lisa who were an extraordinary pair of girls who are ultra marathon runners ,hikers and long distance cyclists.We stood talking for quite a while about our adventures.They took a photo of me and I took a photo of them after that   we went our separate ways.I walked only another 30ft and was stopped by 2 guys who asked where I was hiking too , well the expresion on thier face when I told them where I started and where I was going.....at that point rocket caught up with me and we both got all our details taken down on a piece of paper and our photos taken.We stopped at a shelter for lunch and met a couple of guys who had just started a section hike the day before.Both chewing tobacco and looking more like mountain folks from Georgia rather than from where they claimed to be from.Both were wearing denim pants (trousers) and long sleved shirts......perfect hiking clothes for a day like today!!!!!!!Just as I was crossing the road into the car park a minivan pulled up next to me with someone hanging out the window yelling "are you going all the way to Maine" when I replied "I" he look puzzled so I replied "yeah sure am sir" he said "right on" and imediatly pulled over and both he and his wife jumped out and hit us with a million and one questions.....rocket and I introduced   ourselves and so did they.They went by the names of Gerry and Betty both real friendly folks who were very intrested in our hike , Gerry took or photo and said it would be going into a book he is writing(about what I don't know).While Rocket was talking with Gerry, Betty was stocking my food bag up with some crackers and vienna sausages.So we were off again and just before we reached the last shelter in the Shenanoah I looked at my ankles which had been itchy and found a rash had appeared.............alarm bells started ringing imediatley in case it was posion Ivy.Posion Ivy is not serious but the $100 doctors bill to get a jab is.When we reached the shelter I took my boots and socks off to let it air for a while (all wildlife in a within 5 miles died instantly) we decided to hike on to the next again shelter and just as we were leaving something caught the corner of my eye......the shelter was bare except from 1 bottle of anti-itch cream tucked away in the corner.The cream was for the treatment of posion ivy , sumac and oak.I could not believe my luck........but later when I thought about it I realised it was true trail magic.What a fun filled day the only part not bieng fun was the 30 odd miles we hiked.........my feet are killing me.