Date: 2009-06-14
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: US Route 501, Glascow
Miles today: 19.9

Nice sunrise and fairly clear with a light breeze. Rain in the evening.Up at 5:45, packed and ready to go when Wingard arrived before 7:00. Once agin, Doris took most of our gear while we travelled with light packs. Moonlight, not wanting to carry any more weight than is absolutely necessary, as developed a makeshift pack that is several plastic grocery bags, with a thick bungee cord used as a shoulder strap. It works fairly well, and beats carrying a couple pounds of pack. Once again, we hiked steady but not fast, making good time. As we started, the leader of the boy scouts camping at the shelter had come across a deer fawn that didn't know fear was curious and came close to the strange looking human. Momma deer was not pleased, but there was little she could do. It lasted less than a minute before baby deer got bored, but it was interesting. Tried to take a picture, but the camera didn't work. There were no real views to speak of. At one point, we reached the top of Apple Orchard Mountain, where there was a major Air Force radar station that formerly employed several hundred personnel. The station is still there, but the personnel seem largely gone, and the land has gone back to open field. We crossed paths with a thru-hiker who has twice before hiked the AT. He is suffering from lukemia, and in on a lot of medication. Something in his body chemistry is wrong, and he sweats constantly, which obviously is a problem. Not sure I admire his dedication to hiking at a time when his first priority should be his health, but he is absolutely determined.We crossed through several interesting rock formations, through one narrow corridor that had a large, 10 ton rock wedged over our heads. It was interesting and not too painful. It's hard to say anything kind about rocks, being the bain of my existence (together with big ups), but these rocks were interesting.Late afternoon we crossed the James River on what is the longest dedicated footbridge on the east coast. It formerly was a private bridge built by a landowner, had gone into disrepair, and was purchased by the forest service for the AT.We settled in a small park about a mile up from the trail, camping for the night. Moonlight and I had talked about spending the night at a local motel, and doing laundry, but it turned out the motel had closed, and no motels were to be found. Moonlight then went with Doris 5 miles up to the town of Glascow, for both have packages coming at the post office in the morning. Moonlight returned with two hot chicken breasts for each of us, which we ate greedily on a park bench as the rain continued. We then set up our tents and were in our sleeping bags by 7:30, the end of a long day. The more I learn about Wingard and Doris, the more I like them. They are genuinely nice and gracious folks who enjoy each other's company, and are fun to be around. Doris is outgoing and has strong opinions, and Wingard is more quiet and reserved. She is clearly devoted to him for agreeing to follow him on his hike in a van, but after he hurt his foot in TN, I don't think she wants him out on his own. Moonlight and I have got to work hard not to abuse their generosity, but there's no doubt that the assistance they have offered has kept me hiking.