Date: 2016-05-17
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: light rain

It was a good decision to sleep in the shelter. It started raining just when we woke at 6am. I packed up under cover and left at 7:30am in the rain. It was cold too. I wore my down jacket under my rain gear. After a couple of miles I took my down jacket off...it was still raining but I continued on. It was rocky and slippery...very slow going but not as slow as the Dragon Tooth hike. There were no views today just rain and clouds. When I got to the top of a ridge I decided to try to call my wife and I was surprised that I reached her. She asked if I had seen my email...nope...no internet. She told me the phone was going to Virginia. How that happened I do not know, I left it to go to Baytown, again, why am I surprised. The problem is it will not get there until Thursday, that means two zero days that were not in my plans. OK, fine, I am not calling Verizon again to change, no telling where it will end up. As I was finishing lunch Oriole and Juan passed me, I fell in right behind them. With Oriole leading Juan and I did our best to keep up, it was a good pace. There were lots of creeks and running water from all the rain. We arrived at Paul Wolfe Shelter for a break after hiking 15.8 miles. Sweet Potato and Andy were there. Missing Person and Black Santa then arrived. I decided to push on and get to Waynesboro for a warm place and shower. We did the last 5 miles in 1hr 45min, we were getting it!!!! There was not much to see because it was still raining. I got to Rockfish Gap and there were a list of residents who you could call and they would pick you up and take you where you want to go for free! Waynesboro is very hiker friendly and about 4 miles off the trail. We had decided to go to Grace Lutheran Hiker Hostel, they are only open for a month and had opened for the season yesterday, great timing. The first number we called, Steve, he was available and came to get us, we squeezed in another hiker, Mary. We got to to church and Farmer was there. He said there were only 4 hikers last night. We checked in and got a tour. They have quite an operation. We slept in an auditorium type area with portable cots that we set up. They had showers, kitchen, common room and loaner day packs and clothes. We set up and I took a shower. I feel so much better! I went to dinner, Chinese Buffet! Oriole, Juan, Rubix, Fisherman and I sat together. Saw Bombadil and Goldenberry there. I had a chat with them and they are doing well. I had a good meal and did not overdo it. As we were leaving I saw Shoe outside and talked to him for a bit. When we got back to the Church, Maria was there too. There were 14 hikers there including Andy, Mary, Rafiki (had not seen him in a while), Missing Person, Aristotle, and a couple more. I had a nice evening in the common room chatting with the two patrons. I had some hot chocolate and toast with jelly for a late snack while some of us hung out in the common room where there were a couple of computers that we could use.I got on to check on the routing for my phone and saw it was not going to Waynesboro but to Buena Vista where I was 4 days ago!! That was the original destination from 6 phone calls ago and how it is ending up there who knows. Since my phone is completely out now I asked my wife to correct it. Well she got a taste of Verizon "Customer Service" and she said the best thing for me to do is rent a car and drive to Buena Vista on Thursday to get it. What a Saga! It is going to end up costing me more just trying to get my phone the past 10 days than to buy a new one!!! Rent a car...that is what I will do. It better be there! Andy said he would make pancakes for everyone in the morning. Lights out at 10:30pm.