Date: 2014-06-05
From: Virginia Beach

To: Skyline 87.2
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: clear sky

It felt like a very long day today, as expected. It was a great day though. We were up at 6am due to a dog barking. We quickly packed up and stopped for breakfast at a local diner which great small town food. A guy in a pickup truck stopped and asked if we wanted a ride up to the trailhead. We jumped in and he took us right to where we got off before the beach. I entered the SNP around 9am. After getting my park pass, I realized there was no water for a good 6 miles which is the first shelter. I only had half a liter with me. Stupid rookie mistake. I consumed that in the first mile since it was so hot and muggy. I was very dehydrated to say the least. I was going to do anything I could to yoggi some water off someone on Skyline Drive when I got to Beagle Gap. A group of several Forest Rangers were there. I asked them if they knew were the closest water source was. A nice gentlemen pulled out three gallons of water and The Rock and Pond came running over. We all consumed at least a liter or two sitting there, and filled up what we could with the rest. We were very thankful as the next 2 miles are up and down to the shelter. They also handed us a few homemade cookies along with an orange. I was glad I asked them! We took off for the next shelter and did not stop until we got there. The Rock and Pond were already down at the shelter. I stopped at the bring .2 miles off the trail and filled up my two liter water bladder along with my liter water bottle, after drinking a liter or two. I was going through water like crazy today. I knew I was extremely dehydrated because I had yet to pee today and I was starting to get headaches on the up hills. We spent close to half a hour at the shetler. I ate lunch and checked out the privy. The next twelve miles today felt like twenty four. I switched to my oranger Superfeet insoles before starting the park. They still hurt because I am breaking them in, but they feel a lot better compared to the blue insoles I was using. A lot mroe padding for hard landings. I found a tick on my stomach about the size of a pencil tip. No idea how long it had been there, but it was tiny! This was about 4 or 5 miles after the first shelter, so hopefully I got it somewhere between there and here. I was a hour or so behind The Rock and Ponds by the time we got to the last road crossing before the 2nd shelter. We were at Skyline Drive mile marker 87.2. As soon as I saw them sitting there, I knew there was a plan brewing. Within a few minutes we had our thumbs up hitching back to Waynesboro to devour some Chinese Buffet and camp in the field for free again. A very nice couple from Holland picked us up. They were visiting and sight seeing all down the east coast. The dropped us off right at the buffet. We are all pretty worn out today. The first day back on the trail after a relaxing beach trip was not so easy. We all bought at least five Gatorades a piece. Miss Janet is going to drop us back off at the trail in the morning. Every day is a new adventure. I cannot wait to see what is to come. I absolutely love not knowing what the next day will bring.