Date: 2003-08-01
From: Front Royal, Va.

To: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

start Front Royal,Va.destination Jim and Molly Denton ShelterI went to sleep last night dreaming of fresh scones and granola for breakfast this morning And maybe a cup of hot herbal tea. Mudbutt and I made ourway back downtown to the Pub and Eatery where we had hadsuch a great lunch yesterday. They were out of granola, but my lemon bluberry scones more than made up for it, along with a cup of hot tea. After breakfast, we called for a cab to take us to the grocery store. We resupplied there with enough food to get us to Harpers Ferry. The store seemed overly bright and sterile. They had a wonderful selection of baked muffins and fresh bagels. I picked out a poppy seed lemon muffin for tomorrows breakfast and a sesame bagel for lunch. We walked back to the motel and packed up. Bill Sharp the president of Front Royal's Rotary Club picked us up for the noon meeting. As usual the food and fellowship was very enjoyable. Another Rotarian who write for one of the local papers did a short interview with me. I hope the article will generate some more sponsorships for my hike. Mr.Sharp graciously took us to the trail and bid us good luck. Once again we are headed north.It takes a while for me to find the rhythm of the trail, but before long I am hiking along. The light rain that has been hovering over the area for two days finally stops. The only breathtaking I do today, is trying to catch my breath in this high humidity. It is like drinking pea soup. It is so thick and hard to breath. The day today is a short 5 miles.Since we did not get on the trail until after lunch,we plan to stop at the next shelter. This shelter is by far the nicest one I have seen to date. There is a shower that is piped straight from a mountain spring. I forego the shower tonight. I do not smell bad enough after one day of hiking to want to freeze any part of my body with ice water. There is no one else here at the shelter and we think we maybe by ourselves tonight. I do miss the company of other hikers in the evening. The comradery and feelings of acceptance are important to me. I also love to hear how others hikes are going. Within an hour we are joined by John, Joan, Mike, Tom, and Frank. Tom finds out that there is a short blue blaze trail into Linden, Va. and hikes off to get us cold sodas. Joan has been following Mudbutt's journal and is delighted to put names with faces. Mike is from Linden and just hiked in for an evening of playing his mandolin. He was suprised to find an audience here and preceded to entertain us with his wonderful talented playing. We played name that tune to his selections. I had bought a can of smoked oysters for Mudbutt to celebrate her hiking 500 miles. I presented them to her while Mike played Dixie! It turned out to be such a special evening. I am always suprised by the magic that we encounter along the trail. Just when we least expect it!! I have left the Shenandoahs behind. Gone are the well placed milage posts and easily accessible road side grills. Gone also is the commercialism and multitude of tourists out to cram as much as they can into a short weekend. Finally today, I see just a short section of level, and flat trail. This after a significant climb. In just a few days, I will be out of Virginia. Virginia has over 20% of the trail. It seems like I have been in Virginia forever. I have mixed emotions about missing a family reunion in New Mexico this weekend. I only found these family members five years ago. I have already lost a lifetime of relationships with them. Thanks to my parents divorce. It is like I am trying to make up for all the lost time. Already several people have passed away. People I was only priviledged to have known a short time. But at least I had a short time to get to know them. This is probably the biggest thing I have given up to be out here. The lightning bugs are flying high tonight. They light up the trees like Christmas lights. The mist has moved in giving everything a greyish glow. There is not a breeze anywhere. It is hot, humid and muggy. I am grateful for my enclosed tent. Slugs are absolutely everywhere and they long to attached themselves to all of my belongings. I hope the next few days pass quickly. I am itching to reach that halfway point. Yet I do not want to miss what this last section of Virginia has to offer me.total miles 5.2