Date: 2017-06-11
From: VA 130/James River Footbridge/Glasgow, Virginia 

To:  A flat spot by the Pedlar River Bridge at Mile 799.9
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

6/11VA 130/James River Footbridge/Glasgow, Virginia to a flat spot by the Pedlar River Bridge at Mile 799.915.0 milesTotal miles:  799.9It cooled off a little during the nighr, and I ended up closing one of the vestibules and draping my quilt over me. I slept well and got up at the regular time, even though the shuttle didn't pick us up until 8:00.  This gave me plenty of time to get ready and to resort my food bag.  I had a bit of extra food.  Instead of carrying the extra weight, I left it on the table and let the other hikers know it was fair game.  It didn't last long.  Our shuttle driver was young  and enthusiastic and talkative, so it was an entertaining trip back to the trail. We started hiking at 8:15 and knew we had fifteen tough miles ahead.  Today reminded me of a roller coaster.  I hiked up and over five named mountains:  Little Rocky Row, Big Rocky Row, Bluff, Punchbowl, and Rice Mountains.  The ascent of each one was steep, rocky, and difficult.  The descent of each one was, for the most part, much more gradual and with better trail.  Up really steep and then down more gradual, like a roller coaster.  There were some very picturesque views along the way.  My favorite today was of the James River from the top of Rocky Row.  You can see the railroad tracks snaking along the edge of the river and, by chance, I happened to see a train moving along the rails.  If the movement hadn't caught my eye, there is no way I would have seen it.  I know it was just as loud and thunderous as the one the day before by the bridge, but I had climbed a long way up to see the one today, and it was quiet and almost invisible from my new vantage point.  I saw several new flowers today, and I also found some blackberries!  I ate a couple of the ripe ones but left the rest for other hikers and maybe a few bears.  I'm guessing that multi-floral roses are an invasive species here like they are at home, but they are certainly fragrant.  As the forecast promised, it was hot today.  There were periods of cooler breezes, and I was in the shade of the woods for the majority of the day, but it was still plenty warm.  There was an interesting and sad monument at the summit of Bluff Mountain, dedicated to the memory of little Ottie Cline Powell. On November 9, 1890, Ottie, who was four years and eleven months old, was sent out with the other students to collect firewood for the school's woodstove.  Ottie "strayed" from the school, and his body was found on April 5, 1891 at the top of Bluff Mountain, seven miles from the school.  I have a hard time imagining the poor little guy trudging up to the top of that mountain, but I don't believe there is any evidence on how his body got there.  Water availability continues to be a concern.  My two liters got me the 10.5 miles to the next available water at the Punchbowl Shelter (although the water poured from a piped spring and not a punchbowl).  I drank a liter there and filled all my bottles for the remaining 4.5 miles and made sure I drank a lot of water for the conclusion of today's hike.  I arrived at my destination, the Pedlar River Bridge, at 5:30.  This bridge is another really cool suspension bridge.  The guidebook lists camping 0.2 miles south of the bridge, but I never saw anything that looked campable there.  Instead, I located a little hidey hole under the rhododendron at the foot of the bridge that had just enough room for two tents.  There is a fire ring, so I certainly wasn't the first one to think of camping here.  Gravity showed up a bit after I arrived.  I cooked dinner on one of the concrete pads of the bridge, and we suspended our food bags under the bridge, but not over the water.  Just past the bridge, which I will officially cross tomorrow, is the 800 mile mark.  I crossed over to check (and also because it is fun crossing suspension bridges)  and there is an 800 written in stones on the trail. Tomorrow should be another big day.  There is only one mountain, but it entails a 3,100 foot elevation change over six miles.  There are apparently few available camping spots, and water will again be an issue.  I plan on hiking 18.9 miles to the north fork of the Piney River, with two available water stops, although one is located 0.3 miles from the trail.  I also believe it is supposed to be warm again. Today, while challenging, was very doable, and I expect tomorrow will prove the same.  On a bright note, my pack is lighter by one day's worth of food.  I'm listening now to the water of the Pedlar River flow by my tent and the croaking of bullfrogs, and I'm going to let this put me to sleep so I'll be ready for tommorow.