Date: 2006-06-21
From: Low Water Bridge

To: Campsite along the Aqua-Blaze
Miles today: 11.7

Started:Luray Low Water BridgeFinished:Front RoyalSleeping:Tent (21,22,23) Hotel(24)Miles:46.2 Total Miles:955.56-21-06, WednesdayWAS THIS SUPPOSED TO REST MY HEEL... yes...but I need to say that canoeing 13 miles in low water conditons is more like creek hiking with a drag load of 110 pounds. My arms feel like lead weights. Rod twisted his sore ankle a least 3 times while atempting a long portage of the canoe over mossy high, low, deep, wide rocks. Our canoeing buddy, Lead Foot suddenly took ill with what we are now calling the 2006, one day, AT Virus. He spent most of the day chumming over the side of his vessel...poor guy took directly to his tent without supper.A very hot and humid night...we celebrate the summer solstice in birthday suits a top our sleeping bags. Welcome summer!!   6-22-06, ThursdayVery nice run of Class 1 & 2 rapids today. Alot of muscle-ing thru shallows. This has become quite the workout. I am getting sun burnt in spite of the thick layer of sun block I apply over and over during the day. It's going to be nasty sleeping with this heat radiating from my epidermis layer. I already took a nice soak in the river and a cool shower in the camp facilities. I may go up and stand in the shower all night... News Flash...Lead Foot anounces, "What we need is a good thunderstorm to get the river's water level up for tomorrow." not long after his phophetic disortaton, a thunderstorm from absolutely NO WHERE, hit unsuspecting hiker/canoe/campers at riverside campground. Hikers DIVE for their tents leaving half eaten hotdogs on their picnic table, drying clothes on their clothes line. THE STORM RAGES...hail stones fall, tents threaten to collapse or go airborn. (I fully expected a funnel cloud to wipe us off the face of the earth!) When the storm finally passes, hikers emerge from their tents. ONE CASUALTY! Lead Foot has rented a piece of junk (tent) from the canoe company...He opens his tent fly and out pours( and I stress pours) it's contents. Lead Foot appears like a pile of clothes in a side loading washer, who spin cycle mal-functioned. He was not real happy, but says, when asked, "YAH, I STILL LIKE THUNDERSTORMS!" I did not ask him the question the following morning. Rod woke him to let him know the sky was due open again, and upon our suggestion, spent the rest of the evening sleeping in one of the public restrooms to avoid the ongoing, evening down pours. My understanding is he chose the handicap toilet/shower, as it afforded him a little more room. Lead Foot is yet another hiker to be glad he had a name before he stepped foot on he AT (my favorite would be..."A Lewie Lew-ah")6-23-06, FridayI woke with a rash...thinking hmmm to much sun?After packing it in and loading the canoes we hit the river. Lead Foot is now dry and eating. Rod's akle and my right heel are definately on the mend.After lunch we hit the shallows and in spite of the rain, we had about a 2.5 mile portage (drag) across the Shenandoah river bed. This is every bit as hard as hiking and FAR MORE FRUSTRATING.Bluebird say,"Take your paddles back and give me my poles!!!"To add insult to injury, upon arriving at Front Royal, my face begins to swell. This is now showing itself to be an allegic outbreak. LONG story short...the goop I've been lathering all over my body for sun protection presents itself as the culprit! This night I take on the appearance of Bo-tox gone wrong, or a Sharpia Puppy. Rod thinks I look like a Mongolian from Napal. Where's my sunglasses... 6-24-06Bullet Point Day:* To the emergency room for a shot of Steroids (eyes are practically sealed shut)I'm not a vain kind of gal, but I don't want to scare small children. Do Christian woman wear the viel!* To pharmacy to fill persciption for 20 mg prednisone, for the next nine days dosage* To the local taveren for lunch* To the local outfitter to have my sweetwater purifier repaired* Purchase new filter chamber, drop MORE money!* To Pioneer Hotel, Rod naps, Bluebird balances checkbook and organizes for next day on the trail. * LONESTAR knocks on the door a huge hug reunion. He looks great...trim and fit...Do I look that good?* Large Pizza (meat lovers) and wine for dinner* Delivey of glass of wine to Lonestar for a good night sleep* Back to room fgor hot shower and late night movie