Date: 2014-05-17
From: Seely - Woodworth Shelter

To: VA 826 - Terry
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Just wanted to explain previous double entry. I had to make an addition and should have gone into edit but was too lazy and thought I could just pull it up and make a correction - wrong! I will try to clean it up later when I figure out how. Also I say it was the Second Worse Day on the Trail but it actually ended up as one of the best. We left camp around 700 figuring we would have plenty of time to get VA 826 where it crosses the AT and meet up with Terry. It had been quite cold last night for mid May - 35 degrees. Problem Bear got up and out by 630 and we followed shortly after. My hands were freezing cold as it was also breezy. The trail was nice but difficult at times. I did take some time to climb Spy Rock which had been used in the Civil War to monitor troop movement through 3 different valleys which is pretty neat when you think about it. After that things kind of went down hill and I don't mean in a good way. When reading the guidebook, when a road is listed, unless it is indicated otherwise, it is considered paved. However, when we got to what we believed was 826 it was a rutted, washed out logging road that a 4x4 would have trouble navigating. As a result, Gray Ghost and I decided to continue on thinking it would only be matter of time and we would run into it. After a mile and getting to the Priest Shelter sign we realized our mistake and had hiked uphill a mile out of our way and now had to hike back down to the cross road which we realized was 826. Once down there we had to figure out what to do next as we didn't know if Terry could make it up any part of this road and we didn't have cell reception. Gray Ghost and I then went down to the Crabtree Falls Trail head a half a mile a way and then took the Falls trail down another 2.1 miles to the parking lot thinking she might have gone there. The falls were spectacular given the recent rain fall and I only wish I had had more time to enjoy them, but we were on a different mission. There were a lot of cars in the lot with Boy Scouts, families and day hikers, but none with New Hampshire plates. We then decided to head out to Rte. 56 which was paved and try to hitch a ride to somewhere where we could get cell service. After just a short time we were picked up by a very nice couple the Evans' who I apologize don't remember their first names, but do remember their dogs Jeremy and Gracie. Maybe it was because I rode in the back with them. They were from D.C. but owned a second home in C'ville and were just driving about. I continued to try to get a hold of Terry whenever I got cell service as it would come and go as we went in and out of the mountains. The Evans' offered to take us back to C'ville and I was able to finally leave Terry a message letting her know. She called back when she got cell service letting me know she had got the message and would call me as to my location when she got closer to C'ville. The Evans' gave us a tour past the college which was having their graduation that day. What an historic town with a lot of eclectic buildings and history. They dropped us off in this really cool place called the Outside Mall with tons of stores and restaurants. We ate at a place called Miller's where we had a couple of beers, wings and burgers and fries. Terry finally caught up with us and boy it was so good to see her. After a couple of more drinks we were off to her place out in the country. Before we went there though she brought me to one of those walk in medical clinics so I could have my ankle looked at. To make a long story short, the Doctor who was kind of condescending, told me what I knew, I had tendonnitis in the ankle and to take more ibuprofen and would write me a script for Percoset. He also suggested a neoprene support but they did not have the means to give me a cortisone shot. I did find out my weight was down to 157, my bp was 120/80 and pulse was 50 which is all good. Back at Terry's we showered and went and watched the Preakness then went to her friend Jennifer's to do face time on the computer. We also got to meet her little girl Peyton which was nice. With Brandon's help we were able to finally get the face time to work and I was able to speak/see Laura, Jack, Billy, Brandon, Aunt Marilyn, Uncle Bill. I really appreciate everyone's effort to set this up. After that it was time to go eat again and we went to this place called Wood Grill which was like a giant buffet palace that had every type of food you could think of. With full bellies it was back to Terry's and a much need shut eye. Boy what a day to say the least, but as Ihave said before and will continue to say God always provides and I'm looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings. OH YEAH, DANIEL'S IN ANOTHER WEEK. YIPPEE!!!