Date: 2007-06-18
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: clear sky

June 18, Waynesboro!I made it to the Shenandoahs! And, boy, am I glad to be here.So, I woke up at 6:30 a.m. today and it was 66 degrees in our tent. Last time Eric and I shared a tent it was about 18 degrees so this was a nice switch. The shelter area was pretty neat - spread out campsites and lots of space. I went and got water before Eric got up and then we packed up and had breakfast with the other A-Team members. Eric and I started hiking at 8:30 a.m.Melk and I also discussed how there was definitely a bear rummaging around camp last night. Loud, heavy movements were all about around 4 a.m. She actually had a dream that the bear rolled her tent to its den. Ha.So...we got to Reed's Gap, where Eric had parked, about an hour into the hike and made arrangements for lunch. The hiking this morning was okay. It was a little rocky and there were small ups and downs. I met Eric at 11:30 a.m. for lunch at the Dripping Rock Parking Area on the Parkway and so did the rest of the A-Team. He had brought us roast beef sandwiches and set up chairs which I'm sure made all of our days. Later I would find out that TalkerMan was so impressed that he was spreading the word along the trail. I hung out for about an hour and was the first to leave. I was headed to Waynesboro while the rest of the team was headed to the shelter before town so I wanted to get going.It was really hot and sunny out so I was sucking down a lot of water but it was making me very sleepy too. I hiked the first five miles slow and steady. I was feeling really tired. I stopped at a spring to fill up on water and have a snack. It hit the spot - I chugged about a liter of water just because it was cold. The thunder started shortly after that.It took about an hour for the rain to come. I was worried about the possibility of lightening but, luckily, the storm passed my area within about 45 minutes. I stopped at the shelter just to sign the register and then I was in the home stretch - four miles to town.Eric met me about 2.5 miles in and we hiked out together. He even brought me a surprise snack! It sure was nice. We made it to Rockfish Gap at 6:30 p.m. and headed into Waynesboro.The day was, overall, not too difficult but there were times when my energy was super low. My shoes aren't quite as comfortable as my old ones so that's sad. There were some great views on the mountaintops which I appreciated. Toward the end of the day, I just wanted to be done though. I am glad to be at the Shenandoahs! 1,325.9 miles to go! - Sound of "Baseball Tonight" on TV. Post Trail Thoughts:I remember that I was up before everyone at the shelter and when I went to fetch water, it was very calm and I appreciated being the only one awake to witness the day starting. It was a nice little warm up walk for the day.I was so glad to see Eric with Arby's that day and I was so glad he'd gotten some for the rest of Team Average too. It was very kind. Ronin seriously considered not hiking for the rest of the day and just driving back to Waynesboro with Eric...but he kept on. And, last, I was seriously glad to be entering SNP - where I hoped the terrain would mellow out.