Date: 2006-06-07
From: Davis Path Shelter

To: Davis Path Shelter
Miles today: 14.3

Ahh, what a wonderful day. Cool and sunshine all day. I'm sitting here at the Davis Path Shelter, mile 537.5, six miles short of 25%. This was my intended stop for the day. I'm enjoying a lukewarm 24oz. Natural Ice and a bologna, ham, salami, and cheese sub I pakced out of Gross Close. Gross Close was basically a Shell station, motel, and restaurant close to Interstate 81. I did a little resupply at the Shell, got the beer and sandwich. I'm thinking I can make it to Pearisburg on my food supply right now. But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. I started the day with a call to Colleen (ex) to see how she and Winston (my 9 year old Bichon Frise) were doing. All is well at home. Colleen's got a break from school, she's been busting ass at college the lasat year or so. I'm very proud of her. And it's always good to hear her voice. We talked for a while, then I hit the strail. I walked about half an hour and came across this older guy sitting on a log at the top of a hill. His name was Space Cookie. He asked if I knew where the next water source was. Come to find out he's out here without a guide book, kinda silly if you ask me. I took my pack off and confirmed there was a spring 3 miles up. I spotted him half a liter and put my pack back on. We talked a few more minutes, then I took my pack off again. Interesting guy. We talked for about 45 minutes about a whole range of stuff, national and world politics, and sorry state of healthcare in American, homeopathic and holisitic medicine, religion, etc. Everything but the weather. I finally broke free and wished him well. When I got to the road, I found the water source, then left him a note how to find it. Seems none of my hiking pals saw him. If I hadn't taken a picture of him, I'd almost think he was an apparition or figment of my imagination. Caught up with Porkchop, Jackson, and John Peterson at the Relax Inn. Porkchop and I went up to the restaurant. I've been craving Thanksgiving dinner, turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. I settled for a very tasty hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy, and a site of tater tots. mmmmm....Pizza, then home cooking, this is living. I went back to the Relax Inn to say bye to John and Jackson. John clued me in to the upcoming water source. Normally there's a spring close to the shelters, but for this one, you have to carry in for about a mile. On my way, I saw a pay phone near an abandoned Exxon station. I normally won't use a pay phone, as I'm docked 35 units on my calling card. However, I haven't talked to my good friend Robert, back home for the last two months. I tried home, no answer, and left a message. I remembered his cell number, and get ready, here's today's magic moment. I called, and on the fifth ring, he answered. Turns out he's in Pennsylvania for a training class and just happened to be in his room at that very moment, in between class and dinner. A half hour either way, and he wouldn't have been near his cell phone. We talked for about a half hour, catching up there and here. I told him how to find my online journal. He fired up his laptop as we were talking and bookmarked the site. It was really good to hear your voice Robert. I hope we can meet for dinner like we talked about (somewhere in NY). Alas, he had his corporate dinner and I had a few more miles to walk.I found the water source, and added 4.5 pounds to my pack weight (on top of the 1.5 pounds of beer!) Of course, it was uphill all the way from there. Got to the shelter, bathed, changed, privied, hung my food bag, and laid out my sleeping gear. I'm alone here right now (8:30) and am expecting 46'er and Storyteller anytime now. My attempts to start a fire have been futile so far, I'm hoping they'll splash a bit of Coleman fuel on this kindling to get it going. Nice thing about the fire is it drives the bugs away. If they're not here soon, it will be time for lights out. Oh, one more crazy AT coincidence, when I was chatting with Space Cookie, he asked if I like to read. Of course, I said. He reached into his pack and produced a copy of "Legends, Stories, and Ghostly Tales of Abingdon and Washington Country Virginia." Guess what? I bought the same damn book in Damascus. Weird, eh? Peace.