Date: 2015-05-05
From: Marble Spring Campsite

To: US 501 VA 130
Miles today: 7.7

Good morning everyone from The Leopard! I'm waking up at Marble Springs Campsite. The birds are talking and being happy. There was a whippoorwill talking all night long. It was annoying because it sounded like he was saying "white boy, white boy, white boy" over and over. Even Slap Shot was annoyed. I started my hike about 8:00 AM and one hour later going uphill I was resting a bit when Regina, the ridge runner lady caught up with me. We talked about outdoors and trail. A ridge runner is a person that checks on the shelters and trail conditions. Now you know that. Regina and I walked and talked going uphill and at the top she did her checking and I hoofed it downhill for another hour until I came to a stream and dropped my pack for a break. It was 10:00 AM. I was eating a snack and was laying in the leaves beside the trail when Regina reappeared. She sat on the trail and we had more outdoor talks when hiker Brother Leroy came up and had questions for Regina. Brother Leroy and Regina headed north and a bit later I headed north to Matts Creek Shelter for my noon break. As I was walking, the bird that gives me warnings of danger or information started calling. I was walking on a slight smooth downhill so I kept my eyes open for something which I didn't know for what, but suddenly right beside the trail by an 18" tall tree was a dead luna moth which I said I wanted to find on my hike. I picked it up and put it on a big leaf and snapped a photo which you will see later. What a day already. More was to come! When I got to Matts Creek Shelter there was Regina eating her lunch at the picnic table. I showed her the luna moth photo. She had walked past the moth a little bit before I did and never saw it. I have one advantage over some hikers. I have what I call my "information bird" which has been with me for about 600 miles now. I took a nap at the shelter. I had only 2.2 miles until I got to VA 501 and then go into town. I had to cross the James River on a nice long footbridge. It's the longest on the AT. I met several collage gals on the bridge. They were watching the water go by and would soon volunteer to take me to town. I got to the parking lot and I had no phone signal to call my shuttle. The girls came to the parking lot and we were talking and I told them I had no phone signal and they said they would take me to town. Wow Oh Wow. I was a happy hiker because it was 5.5 miles to H&H Market where I had a food drop. I could also eat "untrail" food there. I got a trail magic deed from two nice ladies. I hope they realize just how much that meant to me. I had just walked over 8 miles in the woods when I got a nice ride for the next 5 miles. Thank you Katie K and friend! I got my food pack then ordered a hamburger steak, corn, mashed potatoes, 2 chicken legs and a coke. OH YUM. I then called Ken Wallace the shuttle driver. It happened that he lived at the KOA campgrounds where I wanted to go. Oh boy, am I having luck today. Ken is 80 years young and a really nice man. When I got to the KOA campgrounds I cleaned myself up in a VERY clean shower room. It was the cleanest shower/bath house I have seen on the trail. It was cleaner than a lot of homes I have been in over the years. I washed my clothes and sorted my food and gear down to the least I could. I sent food/clothes/other stuff back home to lighten up my pack. I got to work on my writing and at 11:00 PM I shut my eyes, tired but happy.Thought for the day:The kind deeds of strangers is very overwhelming at times. Thank you to every kind soul I met today.