Date: 2003-05-04
From: Pearisburg,VA

To: camping south of Symms Gap Meadow
Miles today: 9.9

It was bittersweet leaving town today. Because of the late night Friday, I didn't feel like I rested until last night. Then I woke up knowing I had to shop, and pack up. Bummer. But I had a great time while there! It's not often that I'm in a town for less than 24 hours and the locals honk and wave as they pass by because they recognize me.By the time I got up (around 10am), packed up, and shopped, it was lunchtime. I met Hotdog at Dairy Queen for lunch, and Fly and Smoothie were supposed to be right behind. Hotdog and I ate lunch then hung around there for another hour, but our hiking friends didn't show up. I couldn't wait any longer. It was time to get on with this hiking thing before town sucked me in for another night!It's always strange hiking on roads, and today the hike started out that way, including crossing the New River on the new Senator Shumate Bridge. I guess the old bridge wasn't very hiker-friendly, and hikers used to hope there weren't any "wide loads" coming along. It took me a couple of miles before I had that silly grinning "Ahhh, back in the woods" moment, probably due to the roadwalk, and being able to hear traffic for a while after that. But the moment came, and I was feeling pretty good.On the way up the big climb de jour, I ran into Bob, Mike, and Bob and Field headed south back to Pearisburg, near the end of a 22-mile slack. They said the climb is a pretty good one, but nice ridgewalking after that. I had a good time hanging out at Trent's, then the Falls with them, but they'll be about 12 miles ahead of where I am by tomorrow. They said they're not going to push the miles though, and I need to to make the Post Office by Saturday at noon in Daleville, about 80 miles from here, so maybe I will see them again.I also saw some section hikers that I met in Bland, and had a good chat with them. The people out here are so friendly, and I enjoy seeing people again and again to talk to them more, instead of seeing someone once and talking the basic trail talk then going on my way. It seems like I've been hiking with or near the same 10 people for a while now, and I'm enjoying that, even if we don't all stop at the same place each night. We usually end up leapfrogging each other.The AT follows the Virginia/West Virginia border around here, and today was slightly on the WV side. Well, maybe it was more like the views were less obstructed to that side. If it weren't for the haze and clouds today,the views would've been awesome. As it was, they were just... great!It's quite windy tonight. I didn't notice it until I got up on the ridge, especially when I stopped at Rice Field Shelter for a break around 5pm. I got chilled, wearing short sleeved shirt and shorts, so I put on my raincoat for warmth and windbreaking. I left it on as I headed north again. I wasn't going far, but needed to go about a mile to some water and campsites. When Hotdog and i got to the water, we decided to grab some, and keep hiking for just a bit. We probably went a mile and a little north before finding a place to camp. The forecast is for possible showers in the morning. Yick. I hope if/when they come, I'm already packed up. I guess I'll find out in the morning.It sure seems a lot coolerthan it had been. Before tonight, except while in the hotel, I'd been sleeping in my silk liner on top of my sleeping bag, and wearing shorts and a t-shirt, but tonight, I'm wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt and will be bundledin my bag!I think a lot of people have been lightening up their packs a bit, by sending home some winter gear. I haven't changed anything yet, but have been thinking about it and talking to others about it. If the warm weather (despite tonight) keeps up for a few to several weeks in a row,I'll probably be making some clothing changes too. I don't want to just yet though. I feel that I've been carrying all that stuff, so carrying it for a few more weeks won't hurt me any. I'm certainly not opposed to dropping some pack weight though!It's amazing to me that since I've been on the AT, even after only a few weeks out here, I've thought about other trips and adventures I'd like to make. Hell, I was talking about doing the Long Trail in Vermont before I'd spent a month on the AT! I realize I should finish this first, THEN see how I feel about other adventures, but I just can't help it! And just how can I support myself and my adventures, and have time for the adventures??? I have many things to work out while I'm out here, but I've already learned that, for me, there is much more to living than working 40+ hours a week! I want to DO things. I want to GO places. I enjoy it, and feel good doing it.