Date: 2005-09-14
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Montebello, Va.
Miles today: 18.8

18.8 miles todaySleeping in a real bedDutch Haus B&BMontebello, Va. I was up until about midnight last night getting stuff organized for the next part of the hike. I woke up at 6am and ran water through the coffee maker in the room to get hot water, then brewed my coffee like I do on the trail. Mine always tastes better because I use good, strong coffee. I walked down and had a fair continental breakfast, then went back to the room and made more coffee. I wasn't in any hurry because my plan was to make it to one of my favorite places on the trail, the Dutch Haus B&B by thursday night. I called Lois at the B&B and warned her I was on my way. She said; "You know, I have to pick up a hiker at Dripping Rock today at 5pm." She said it several times. I think she was trying to drill into my mind that I could come a day early. Well, she at least planted the seed. :-))) That would have been only a 14 mile day though, so I said that I would just sleep in the woods tonight and walk in and see her tomorrow. I got packed up and walked about a mile to an area I felt I had a good chance of getting a ride to the trail at. I hitched for about 20 minutes before a really nice Mexican guy stopped. He was going to work right by where I was hitching, but said to get in and he gave me a 4 mile ride up to Rockfish Gap. I started walking at 9:45am. I was walking along slowly because I had lots of time to get to where I was going for the night. In 5 miles, I came to Paul C Wolf Shelter and met Wobbles and Skippy who had just gotten on the trail in Shenandoah and are planning on walking to Georgia. Landcruiser was also there. She had started a sobo thru hike earlier this year, but got hurt and is now doing sections of the trail. Landcruiser is the person that Lois was picking up at Dripping Rock. We talked a while and I looked at my map thinking about this opportunity to spend an extra day at one of my favorite places. Landcruiser hiked on and I stayed and talked to Wobbles and Skippy for a while. I kept thinking that if only I could get in a few more miles, I'd go to the B&B tonight. I saw where the trail crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway about 4 miles further down the trail and I made up my mind that if I walked 3 mph, I could make it. I started walking. :-))) I caught Landcruiser about 15 minutes later and told her my plans. I walked on after telling her where to have Lois pick me up. I had a 2000 foot climb up Humpback Mountain. It was humid out today and by the time I got to the top, I was soaked, but I had my 3 mph pace going. I kept walking and got to Dripping Rock at 3:05pm. I walked the next 4.2 miles over a very rocky section to Three Ridges Overlook and got there at 4:35...way ahead of schedule. I almost stepped right on a 5 foot black snake that was laying half on and half off the trail. He didn't move at all, so I thought it was just another stick laying by the trail. I saw a hiker sitting down across the lot at Three Ridges Lookout. He was eating and when he was done, he walked by and asked my name. I told him and found out his name was Gantz and he's a sobo thru hiker. We talked a while and I told him what I was doing. He thought for a minute and said he was carrying 6 days of food, so he would pass on the B&B. Lois drove up and said; "Hey, you look like Stumpknocker. :-)))" It was good seeing her again. I threw my pack in back of the truck and hopped in the front. Sometimes you just have to take advantage of opportunities and I figured Lois would feed me better food than what I was carrying. I can't believe I even had to think about that!! We drove down the parkway and picked up Landcruiser and headed for home. I got my shower and Lois did my laundry. She had dinner ready pretty quickly and Landcruiser, Lois and her son, Phillip and I had a very good dinner of lasagna and ziti with a chicken breast topped with tomatoe sauce...yep, I made the right choice today. :-))) We also had a nice salad and then apple pie and ice cream for desert. If my shoes don't get here tomorrow, I may have to slack one more day. Humm, I wonder how I could slow down UPS. :-))) Landcruiser, it's was great to meet you. Thanks Lois, it's great to see you again and be back at your B&B.