Date: 2017-06-16
From: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter Tent Site 

To: Rockfish Gap/Waynesboro, Virginia
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: light rain

6/16Paul C. Wolfe Shelter Tent Site to Rockfish Gap/Waynesboro, Virginia5.0 miles Total miles:  861.9The rain stopped during the night, and I woke up at 6:10 and started getting ready for the day.  I was especially excited because Mike, my good friend and hiking buddy from home, was meeting me today to hike the Shenandoahs with me.  There were only five miles to hike, but I wanted to get an early start because we would have a big day in Waynesboro.  Gravity had already rented us a room at the Quality Inn, so we would have a base of operation.  As I was packing up, two other thru hikers, Splat and Dory, headed out a bit before me.  I had quickly said hi to them yesterday evening as we were all frantically trying to get tents set up before the storm hit.  I wished them happy hiking as they headed out.  I was on the trail by 7:45.  For the most part the trail was good, and I made good time.  I passed an old cemetary and stopped for awhile among the numerous flat rock headstones.  None of the headstones are marked in any way, so there is no way to ascertain the identities of the souls buried there.  I wondered about the lives, aspirations, frustrations, loves, and challenges of all those buried there.  These were as real to them in their time as ours are to us today.  But it is all lost to history. It made me think that the only truly important legacy we leave on planet Earth is the difference we make in the lives of others. Everything else we do will someday be forgotten.  But, like ripples in a pond, the effect we have on others survives in them to be passed on down to further generations.  I passed slowly among the graves and said a prayer for everyone interred there before continuing down the trail. I soon came across an old chimney and foundation of a long abandoned homestead. I wondered if the inhabitants were buried at the cemetary at the top of the hill.  A short distance past the foundation was a little stream where I stopped for water. This was one of a number of places I could have stopped, but it occurred to me how important this stream must have been to the people up the hill in the cabin.  I wondered how many countless trips had been made by the men, women, and children of this long lost community, toting buckets of water to fulfill their daily needs.  With more than enough water to reach Rockfish Gap, I hurried on. I met Mike at the road. It was great to see him, and I am really excited about hiking with him. We looked up the road and saw a woman unloading food out of her vehicle.  Trail Magic! Splat's mother was meeting her and Dory and was providing a second breakfast for all comers.  She had fresh fruit, yogurt, homemade cookies, cold drinks, and other goodies.  Second breakfast again!  It was here that I heard about the adventure Splat and Dory had this morning.  They came upon a mother bear and her cub while hiking the switchbacks on the way to Rockfish Gap.  The cub scampered up a tree, and the mother bear raised up on her hind legs, growling.  Splat and Dory backed up, but there was no way Mama Bear was leaving with Baby Bear still in the tree.  Thinking quickly, the young ladies hiked straight up the hill to the next leg of the switchback and circumvented the bears.  I think they can be forgiven if they bypassed a white blaze!  Of course, by the time I happened along, mother and baby were no where to be seen.  While we were finishing our delicious second breakfast, a gentleman in a yellow truck drove up and offered us a free shuttle to Waynesboro.  We hustled into his truck and were soon at the Quality Inn.  We had two hours to check-in, so we walked the few blocks to the laundromat.  I ended up wearing my rain coat and pants so all of my clothes could be washed.  I had to turn them inside out when I was able to change because they were soaked inside from sweat. I'm sure I looked as dignified as I felt in my rain clothes. I guess it's all part of hiking the AT. With clean clothes, we headed down the street to Wal-Mart to resupply. Our packs will be heavy tomorrow, since our next stop will be Front Royal on Friday. We then checked into the hotel and showered.  I spread my stuff out to dry.  I'm sure I helped the appearance of the hotel when I spread my tent over a bush outside to dry.  After we were cleaned up, we headed down the street for food.  We went to Jake's Bar and Grill and had a wonderful meal.  The restaurant is fantastic and prides itself in using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.  Many of their brews are also from local breweries.  I wanted to go there after talking with a woman I met on the trail this morning.  The restaurant was started by the mother of Lance Corporal Jason, "Jake," Redifer, who had longed dreamed of owning a restaurant.  When her son was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan, Jake's mother established the restaurant in his honor.  What a wonderful tribute to her son.  While we were eating, the rain began.  It slackened somewhat, and we decided to walk the mile to Basic City Brewing Company.  We had gone about two blocks when the rain started to pour down.  As backpackers, all three of us are used to walking in the rain, and at least we wouldn't be setting up tents in it. Also, concrete doesn't turn to mud when it gets wet. We arrived at the brewery, where they were kind enough to give us towels. We sampled a few brews and then headed back to the hotel. We still needed to sort food, get the clothes we were wearing as dry as possible, and get things ready for tomorrow.  With all that accomplished, it was time for bed.  We plan on a short day tomorrow, so we don't need to feel rushed leaving Waynesboro.  There is a free continental breakfast, and I saw a waffle maker so I am ready.  It will be really fun hiking with Mike, and I am excited about reaching the Shenandoahs. Several southbounders have told me of all of the bears they saw while there (this morning, Angus told me she saw eight) so maybe my time will come.  If not, the purpose of this journey is not to see bears (although I am not altogether sure what the purpose is) so I know I'll have a great adventure no matter what.