Date: 2006-06-16
From: James River Footbridge

To: Pedlar River Bridge
Miles today: 18.2

Well, we called Ken and got a ride from the Campground to the James River. Hindsight being what it is, I wish I had climped up Apple Orchard Mountain...but I can always go back and do it another time! Enjoyed going back over the Footbridge and getting a pic of the plaque. As I crossed back over the bridge I marveled at the fact that people actually jump off of this bridge...more power to them, it's quite a drop, at least 30 feet. Anyways, we crossed back over the bridge and began our hike for the day. The first few days temps were cool, but it's getting hotter now, luckily it's still cooling off nice every night. We started climing fairly early as a couple of thruhikers passed us by. Man can they fly on the uphills, alright, maybe not fly but they just don't stop, that is the main difference between us and them. At this point we can keep up on the straights and downhills, but the uphills we still stop to rest our legs every once in a awhile. We finally got up to Fuller's Rocks, and along the way the views back down to the James River were awesome. Stopped for lunch around an overlook and Hobo Joe and Teba stopped and had lunch with us. We continued on from here and hiking went pretty well as I was listening to some Dead. Eventually came to our last big climb up of the day up Bluff Mountain, and only had about 1/3rd of liter left of water...not good, the maps said there was water just before the climb, but the maps can lie as we have found that some info is more than twenty years old. Anyways, we began our climb and it just seemed to go on and on. I finally arrived up top where an old fire tower had once been. The concrete foundation blocks were still there and made a great place to sit, if you didn't mind the bees. That reminds me I got stung twice today...damn bees think my bright yellow and red pack is some giant flower. Anyways, drained the rest of my water, and for the most part the walk to Punchbowl, although 4 miles was for the most part downhill. Finally arrived at Punchbowl and man was it crowded, packoff and got my water filled up. Mummy Toes was here as were some others, Hobo and Teba came in and it looked like they were gonna stay here. We finally figured it out...It was Friday evening and locals come in droves to camp...don't know why they want to stay at an AT shelter when thru's are going through seeing as the local area is loaded with campsites...but anways, some men and kids had taken over the shelter...and locals had already taken over half the tentsites, so we decided to hike on. We hit FS31 and decided to dirt road walk. It was a great walk beside a river and we saw numerous campsites, unfortunately they were all filled with campers, finally talked to one and he informed us that there was camping down by the resevoir...there isn't...but I'll get to that in a moment. We actually hit 6mph a couple times while moving towards our destination.   We eventually came to a road that went to a parking area, but it was closed. There was a lot of open area and we figured maybe we could camp, but the signs said to see the caretaker, so Magic ran up the road while I sat eating Skittles and waited, she eventually returned to inform me that they said we couldn't camp here but there was camping down the road a little, and so that is where we are, in a small rocky area right in front of the Pedlar River Bridge. After setting up camp we made dinner and saw headlamps coming down the mountain, it was Hobo and Teba! They came down and set up their shelter and we sat chillin' and listenin' to music as they had mini speakers for their Ipod. Around midnight, we were still up and saw more headlights as Pixie and crew came in...They mostly have hammocks and it was rough for them to find places to set up, but they managed with a couple setting up using the posts under the bridge. Anyways, this was probably one of my favorite days so far. Tomorrow, we head into Buena Vista, should be to the road by around noon. Night!