Date: 2006-05-05
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: VA 606, Gas Station
Miles today: 16.0

I'm writing in a laundry room in a field behind a gas station in Bland VA. They're out of soap and the owner says he forgot to order any more. I poured in 4 caps of Dr. Brauners Miracle Soap, good for washing pots, hair, body and brushing teeth and it's biodegradable. Every hiker carries it. For fun I'm watching the water turn brown as mud.I'm here with Snapper, a recent college grad from North Carolina with a degree in biology. I just met her last night when she pulled into the shleter after everyone had gone to bed. We chose to hike a 16 mile day rather than a 24. Getting to Pearisburg on Saturday would be useless if we didn't make it before the post office closed. This way I don't have to zero on Sunday. I can get in, get stuff at the outfitter, including a new bottle of Dr. Brauners, and get out on Monday after the post office visit. We read about this place in Wingfoot and another hiker recommended it. For five bucks we cah pitch tents, shower and do laundry. We're camping in a field surrounded by ten or so RV's all with tarps over them. There's a lumber yard across the street. A little girl told me the yard is a favorite drinking spot for locals on weekends. It's Friday night.It was a good day for hiking, cloudy and cool. No views today so I could just cruise down the trail. It's surprising now how much distance I can cover in a couple of hours. I don't think about miles as much as I did. Now I think more about time. I'll look at my watch and decide to hike for two hours and then break. If I'm at a good pace or in the zone I won't look back down at my watch. I'll just keep going. I usually finish my days much earlier than expected. Today felt like an early finish and sixteen miles feels less like a long day, more like an average day. Last night Chill Out told all of us not to miss Dismal Falls today. I would have gone one mile further and camped there but I needed shower and laundry so bad. When I got off the trail at VA 606 I almost turned around and went back. I walked up the road half a mile and saw nothing but the saw mill and lumber yard. Then across the street I spotted the gas pumps under a white roof. As I got closer I saw Snapper sitting outside on a bench. She was snacking on chips and salsa. She was glad I showed up because she didn't want to stay at the place alone but needed its services as bad as I did. Besides a gas station the place has also a small store that serves food. The store sells fishing equipment along with food and auto supplies. Starving, I looked at the menu. I ignored my usual hamburger craving and ordered barbeque instead. I'm in the South and keep ignoring its specialty. Oh my God, it was so good! Especially with cole slaw! I had it with orange juice because again there was no orange crush. After food it was back to business, tent, laundry, shower. By now it was dark and I was hungry again. Back into the gas station a half hour before closing. This time I did have a burger and a salad. Not bad. Snapper came in for a box of Fruity Pebbles. Her dinner looked pretty good too. We chatted until they shut the lights off. She heard the history of the Grease Monkey and friends. Thought it was hilarious. Grease Monkey was glad to be so entertaining.