Date: 2017-05-22
From: Chatfield Shelter 

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter 
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: light rain

5/22Chatfield Shelter to Knot Maul Branch Shelter19.3 milesTotal miles:  558.7The rain ceased sometime during the night, and I woke up at 6:15. I took my time getting ready, trying to keep everything as dry as possible. I was on the trail at 8:00. I knew the next shelter area was 19.3 miles away with three mountains to climb up and over, but I didn't know about the trail conditions.  It looked like the weather was going to smile on us, however, so I decided I'd just start walking and see how things played out. I again saw a good number of American Chestnut trees and stopped to photograph one.  A few miles into the hike, I came to the Lindamood School. Built in 1894, the one room schoolhouse is completely furnished, left unlocked, and is perpetually supplied with goodies for hikers. I helped myself to a peach soda and an orange and also took some toilet paper, since some of mine was a victim of the rain yesterday. The schoolhouse is a beautiful building. There is a sign on the stove asking people to refrain from actually building a fire in it.  There is a list of infractions and their punishments posted on the wall.  A boy caught playing with a girl would earn himself four lashes. Uncle Puck and Juan Gone joined me there, and I stayed for about thirty minutes.  I left a note of thanks in the comments book and some money in the donation box.  From there, it was just a few miles to Atkins, Virginia.  We spend so much time walking in the woods on the AT that it is easy to forget how close to modern civilization we are. Reminders include the high power lines I crossed under today that could be heard buzzing for several minutes before I came to them and were loudly crackling with power when I walked directly under them. We crossed railroad tracks.on the outskirts of Atkins. Walking over a small rise, the Sunoco Station at Atkins and the Highway 81 interchange immediately came into view. Juan Gone had stopped at the gas station for cough drops, and we walked together along the service road, under Highway 81, and then back into the woods. About a mile later, I took the 0.1 mile side trail to visit the Davis cemetery, which dates from the late 1700s. About another mile and I came to a nice campsite complete with picnic table, a few tenting spots, and a privy. Juan Gone and Lost were already there eating lunch, so I joined them, even though it was early for me to eat.  The trail had been good so far, and we all decided to make miles while the sun shines and head for the next shelter. Uncle Puck joined us.  The blister on his heel was really bothering him, and he said he was planning on heading to the hostel several miles closer than the shelter. The trail the rest of the day had its share of steep up and downs but few rocky, difficult areas. There were quite a few muddy spots, but I only slipped a few times and never came close to falling. The area we are hiking through is more pastoral than before, and I walked through several cattle fields today.  The trail crosses fences using stiles, wooden ladders that go up and over the barbed wire. They make me a bit nervous, and I toss my trekking poles over the fence to have both hands free as I climb the one side, pivot direction on top (the nervous-making part), and then climb down the other side. I believe I crossed over ten of them today.  Along the way today, we crossed the one quarter mark. Lost and River were there as well and took a photo of me by the sign. It's hard to believe I am already twenty-five percent done with the trail. I was admittedly a bit weary as I climbed Brushy Mountain, my third mountain for the day, but I motored on and got to the shelter area by 7:00.  Juan Gone, River, Lost, and a friendly section hiker named Needham were already there. I set up my tent, cooked dinner, got water, and was in my tent getting ready for bed by a bit before nine. During dinner, I chatted with River and learned that she is a certified teacher who has been working as a substitute. She told me she really liked working with the special need a students in the resource room and that she was considering getting certified in special ed.  She also has worked a great deal.with horses and has helped with an equine therapy program for children with special needs. I wish her the best is whatever field she finds herself.  I feel confidant she has a bright future.  I settled into bed a bit after nine, dozed until 12:00, and am now completing my journal entry. With no service here, it will be posted as soon as possible. The forecast is for rain and thunderstorms the next few days, but we'll have to wait and see. Despite the earlier forecast, today ended up being a great day for hiking, and maybe we'll get lucky again tomorrow.