Date: 2008-05-09
From: Relaxing at the Relax Inn, Atkins, VA

To: Lynn Camp Mtn, VA
Miles today: 15.8

I woke up about 5:45am and laid in bed awake for 45 minutes, then got dressed and walked up to The Barn for breakfast.G-town Colonel was already there, so I pulled up a chair and joined him.His pack was outside, so he was ready to walk right after he ate....I still wanted to take one last shower and I needed to pack all my stuff yet.I ordered the "Big Breakfast". It had two eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, two pancakes, toast and coffee.I have finally filled up. It took a lot of food this time for some reason.Guess my hiker appetite is actually part bicyclist appetite left over from my ride. :-)G-town Colonel took off after breakfast and I went back to the room and sorted my food, packed my backpack and took a shower.I laid around till 10am, then checked out and headed north on the AT.The grass and woods had enough time to dry out somewhat after last night's heavy rain.I decided not to eat lunch on my way out of town like I normally do because I was carrying plenty of food. I didn't even buy a sandwich for tonight.The sun popped out just about the time I left town.Davis Path Shelter is history! I came walking by when the Konnarock crew only had a little bit of the walls left to take down.They said there were too many parties there from locals because it was just a mile or two from a road.There were three PBR's laying on the side of the Trail. I don't drink too much beer, but it looked good, so I grabbed one and packed it out for dinner.Virginia must want to get rid of some of their shelters. I remember a few years ago that Raccoon Branch Shelter was torn down, now Davis Path Shelter and one of the Konnarock crew said he thought Jenkins Shelter was going to be next to go AND that they were even thinking of taking Partnership Shelter down because of all the parties.I saw the first rhododendrons in bloom today that I've seen this year.I ran into three nobos that were walking south on the Trail. They had been dropped off at a road crossing north of here and were walking back to Damascus for Trail Days.They were carrying BIG water guns! :-)One of their names was Hot Tang, but I don't remember the others, nor a 4th hiker walking south.I sat down and ate lunch. I had chicken salad and crackers, diced peaches, Milky Way, Fritos, raisins and a Rice Krispy Treat....because I deserved it! :-)I saw Bus Driver walk by while I was sitting down eating, then I passed him later on Big Walker Mtn.I actually saw the rarely seen brown thrush today. You almost never see one of those little buggers.I crossed the North Fork Holston River, and then walked by O'Lystery Picnic Area.I stopped at the stream and got water for dinner.I planned on eating at Knot Maul Branch Shelter and the water there is past the shelter, so I carried a liter up the mountain.I got to Knot Maul Branch Shelter and there were a lot of hikers there.I sat down and ate some beef sticks, Vienna Sausages, Fritos, raisins, cheese and drank that PBR for dinner.The shelter was full and there were still about six or eight other hikers there. I decided to walk on....of course I was planning on that anyway. :-)I walked down to Lynn Camp Creek and saw SteadFast camped there,It was too low and damp, so I climbed Lynn Camp Mtn and found a nice dry flat spot to set up for the night.I took a bandanna bath and crawled into my tent for the night.Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)