Date: 2016-06-24
From: Rt.522, Front Royal Va

To: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Hooray! I am back on the trail today. I managed to gain 8 pounds back while at my sister's house. She did a great job rehabilitating me, tough as it was! In keeping with my new "food loading" mentality, I ate an enormous breakfast of french toast, hash browns, scrambled eggs, bacon and juice. That should hold me for awhile.I set off about noon, just as the day was getting hot and steamy. The trail followed Rt. 522 for a bit before turning uphill into the woods. I passed lots of raspberry bushes, but they were on the other side of a very tall chain link fence and I just couldn't get my arm (skinny as it is) through far enough to reach the ripe ones! The trail bordered a creek and the area was lush and boggy. The bugs were swarming, sweat was dripping. There was absolutely no breeze for relief. Covering myself with DEET, I marched on, feeling pretty good. My legs and feet remembered what to do as I kicked it into hiker gear, climbing up towards the Colonel John Mosby campsite at 2000 feet. Realizing that I was barreling along, panting and dripping, it occurred to me to slow down. Duh. I only had to hike 5.2 miles today and I sure didn't need to do it in one hour! I stopped and rested on a cool, damp rock, then started again, a little smarter. At the top, the trail became more enjoyable as pine needles softened the footing and downhill I cruised.I stopped at Mosby creek to replace my chlorinated town water (ugh) with cold mountain water from the creek. Ahh, I sure missed good clean water. I only met one hiker on the trail today, going southbound. We stopped to chat and I asked the young man what that orange tag was hanging off his pack. He told me it was a thing (orange plastic square tag) to repel insects, that farmers use them on cows. He said he hadn't had a problem since he got it in Harper's Ferry a few days ago. Then he pulled another one out of his pack and offered it to me. Being as I am truly bug bait, I was willing to try anything at this point. Not having anyway to hang it, I jammed it into my pants pocket, thanked him and continued on my way. For those of you bovine farmers/ranchers out there, maybe you can enlighten me as to whether or not these things work. I figure they are probably as toxic as heck, but it did seem to diminish the swarm engulfing me at the time. It just seems to me that if they were meant to work for humans, wouldn't more people know about them? Hmmm.Before I knew it, I was at the turnoff for the shelter. I walked down the path and couldn't believe my eyes! I want to live here! It's made of logs, it's clean, it has a big Adirondack chair on its front porch! It has a cooking pavilion. It has a solar shower. It has a privy. It has a bear pole. Who could possibly ask for anything more? To top it off, I was the only one there. Peace and quiet supreme! I scouted around and picked a spot away from the shelter to hang my hammock, then went to check out the shower. Down a path,facing away from the shelter is a booth-like structure, with a big plastic oil drum suspended above, to hold the water. A hose is attached to the bottom of the drum. The hope is that the sun will heat the water. With no one around, it was the perfect opportunity to make use of the shower and get the bug repellent, sweat and grit off. It was just heavenly and as I was so hot from hiking, I didn't even mind that the sun did NOT heat the water!Clean is good.Clean and sitting in an Adirondack chair with a snack and a cup of tea is even better! I sat and relaxed and thought about how good it is to be back on the trail again. Soon hikers started drifting in, some to rest until the sun went down, then they continue hiking until dark or later! Some came to stay. One of the hikers offered me some fresh sweet cherries and I gave her an avocado in exchange (now carrying them to boost the calories!). Eating the cherries made me feel like summer has begun! One of the hikers who came in tonight is Chef Ducky, who I have known for a few months, our paths crossing here and there. We cooked our dinner together and took the opportunity to catch up on her hike and the people we have in common.It was really enjoyable getting to know her better and learn more about her. She has now dropped about 60 pounds and is feeling better and stronger than ever. I am so impressed with her tenacity.I ate a lot for dinner tonight, including an avocado. They really are a tasty treat, and how wonderful to be able to eat them with abandon. Too bad they weight so much, sigh. Well, it is supposed to storm tonight, so I shall put up my tarp before turning in to read awhile. My hammock is so comfy and has worked out great so far on my journey. Good night!