Date: 2005-05-17
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Va. 606
Miles today: 16.3

Started @ Helveys Mill ShelterDestination: Va. 606Miles today: 16.3 milesTotal Miles: 600TentedDay 68Last night was a fitful night for me because of aching in my feet and hips. I took vitamin I before going to bed and again at midnight and 5 AM. When I awakened I thought it was almost 7:30 but it was only 6:30. I did not realize this until 7 AM when I had most everything packed. I still did not get on the trail until 7:45. Once on the ridge the walking was pretty nice with a smooth (comparatively) trail with most of it being fairly level. I stopped at the next shelter about 1:15 to eat some lunch and Epic Flop, Free Radical, Ox, and York were there. We were all at the same shelter last night. I started out before them but they passed me up. I asked if they knew of any camping spots on the trail about 5-6 miles up the trail and Free Radical said they were going to stay at a campground for only $5 which includes a shower. There is a store and deli, also. I had thought about this as a choice but my book says it is 0.8 mile up the road from where the trail comes out on the road. There book said it was only 0.4 miles so I decided to go there, too. It is better than trying to find a camping spot along the trail that is level enough and without rocks and roots. I got to the road at 5 PM. Just before the road is a bridge that crosses a small river and Epic Flop, Free Radical, and Ox were sitting on the road side of it. I started out first and was anxious to get somewhere where there was real food. I first checked on the campsite and paid my money. A washer and dryer are also included in the price so I have clean clothes now, too. My cell phone does not get a signal but there is a payphone so I used it to call Toto with the calling card I got for mothers day. When I got to the store it was so nice and cool and it felt great. I asked about the camping and she was explaining where it was and what was included I began to get dizzy and had to go sit down. Epic asked if he could get some water for me. I gave him money to get a coke for me. Finally I was able to go up and order a sandwich and fries. As soon as I ate I felt quite a bit better. I even had a pint of strawberry ice cream. Before my meal was ready I was freezing and had to get my fleece from my pack and put it on. I found out that the store opens @ 6AM and they do serve breakfast. At least I'll start out with plenty of food to get me started. Break-a-Leg was at the shelter last night and she wrote in the shelter register that she saw a bear yesterday. When I read it this morning she had gone already, but York said they both saw the same bear. He had heard a rustling of leaves on the mountain side and turned to see it walking up to the ridge and then it turned around and just looked at them. Today I spooked 2 deer when I came around a turn in the trail. They stopped a little further away and just looked back at me. The one closer kept nodding its head and its tail would also fly up when it did this. Finally I took some steps to see what it would do and when I stopped it would nod its head over and over. Finally it just started eating the grass. Today I saw a beautiful pink Ladyslipper along the trail. I had seen one the other day but the one I saw today must have just bloomed because it was beautiful.Tomorrow I hear it is supposed to rain. Epic says his dad told him and he is a weatherman so he trusts what he says. Toto is supposed to meet me tomorrow and hike a few days with me but it does not sound like it will be very good weather for hiking. Well, I¢ve had my Vitamin I and it is dark, so time to turn my headlamp out and try to get some sleep. Good-night.