Date: 2008-05-04
From: Big Meadows Campground

To: Skyline Drive Bootin's Gap
Miles today: 5.4

Today was a mixed up day. To turn or not to turn?? Today I changed directions, literally. I left my tent site after breakfast at the lodge with a new friend Hermit. He was a great guy. He gave me his map of the Shenandoahs which came in handy later that day. The day was looing great and a litttle cooler. As I entered the dining room, someone called my name. It was Bull and his Mom Pam. Southside had just left to go north. I missed him but not for long. I packed up the tent and went to say goodbye to the trail angels. They were great once again giving me a sandwich and cookies for the road. (There are some great people out there.) I walked back to the trail where I left off ( I have become a trail purist and even though I could have used a short cut I returned to exactly where I left off). I was feeling a little melancholic. SoBo was not doing it for me. I called Joellen and on her counsel (Joellen always knows what's best for Jack,) I decided to turn around. I hiked 5 more miles south to Bootins Gap, got out onto Skyline Drive, and began hitching north. Three rides and two hours and 30 minutes later, I was 50 miles north and back in Front Royal, VA. My first ride was a guy from VT whose wife had just graduated MA from JMU. She is a teacher at Castleton State. The next ride was with some new friends who I had seen and spoken to on the trail. They took me to Elkwallow. We had a nice chat- very nice people. She was moving from DC to the UK to be with him (Paul). I had actually seen them day hiking at Big Meadow, small world. If I had not chatted them up, they may not have picked me up. It pays to meet people sometimes. The final ride was in a Mercedes with a guy named Massou who as it turnes out works in Worcester sometimes at Polar Bev. They drove me all the way to Front Royal. I tried to call Bull but did not have his number. He heard of my plan from two guys staying at Big Meadows, so he called me. (Word travels fast on the trail.) I waited for him to pick up Southside at mile 18 on the Skyline. He slack packed from Big Mtn. They did not tell him thatI would be there. We had our reunion at KFC and a pleasant one at that. Instead of going to the trail, Southside, Pam, and Bull took me to their friend Jerry and Carol Gregory's house in Hamilton, VA for dinner and a night's stay my two new trail angels. Gerry it turns out coached at UMASS and Yale, and I did many of his games. He also coached at Sandwich HS on the Cape and was a friend of Bruce McPherson. Obviously, their was a lot of football talk. He and his wife own a B and B in Chatham, MA. They are lovely people and have a very nice house in VA. Thanks to Southside, Pam, and Bull for the help. They were great trail magic. Tomorrow they will drop me off at Rt 522 in Front Royal and I will head north perhaps to the Delaware Water Gap. SoBo was not for me. No real connections with people. I called Ron Beatty to tell him I would probably not make the Trail Days. That is probably my only regret. I will miss him and the General. After being in the shelter one night, the hikers were gone to the north and I to the south. It was not agreeing with my style, so I hitched the miles back and will start north tomorrow. We will see what happens. Only time will tell. Happy Trails- Peace,Squire.