Date: 2006-04-16
From: Relax Inn

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 2.2
Weather: clear sky

Sarah and I spent most of the day just bumming around. We sat in the hotel room until moments before check-out time, so that I might milk the last savory drops of electronic entertainment from the local cable affiliate. It was a lazy Easter Sunday. The plan was to find a Subway and take advantage of the two footlong subs for $9.99 deal, but alas, Jesus got in the way (as I find he often does in my life.) At least he was kind enough to allow me the seasonal joys of the Cadbury egg, a sugary confection for which I am most grateful. We ended up grabbing lunch at Arby's before heading back to VA 42 to wait for Casino to pop out of the woods. Despite my best navigational efforts, Sarah still experienced some motion sickness on the drive over the ridge. I suppose thta's almost inevitable. We got to the picnic area around noon, so we had some time to wait.You know, now that I think about it, it's time for another one of my rants. It concerns that picnic area. The pavilion is private property, owned by a local service club. I can't remember if it's the Kiwanis or the Rotary or the Elks or the Warthogs. The point is, it isn't on Park Service land. There were No Camping signs posted, which I think is perfectly reasonable. I had not intention of camping, so I merely enjoyed my Big Roast Beef Combo and played some cards with my lovely girlfriend. It wasn't until I later arived at the shelter that I saw a posted notice that would raise my ire. According to the sign, not only can hikers not camp at the pavilion, they are not to park at or dine at the picnic tables without express written permission of the club. I think this is absurd. If you don't want hikers to use your precious tables, don't put them ten yards from the most traveled footpath in the country. This treatment was in curious juxtaposition to that we had received or the 5 miles prior to that crosing, where local landowners had loaned rights-of-way to the Trail. It was some of the most beautiful hiking I had done, and i am very appreciative to the farmers for this freedom to use their land. Unfortunately, this gracious hosting isn't found from local service clubs who own a run-of-the-mill picnic pavilion. But I digress.Around 3pm, Casino popped out of the woods more tired than i would have expected. Of course, I did slackpack those miles, so maybe they were harder than I remembered. We sat around and ate Twizzlers and brownies for a few minutes, before saying goodbye to Sarah and heading on our way. The 2 miles went by fairly smoothly as I recall, though i think the shelter was a bit farther than we were lead to believe. In addition to shelter mice, we were also to share the space with a plethora of hornets. They seemed to keep to themselves, and other than Freckles trying to eat them, there were no problems. Speaking of my spotted friend, he ferreted out a summer sausage in the woods near the shelter. I got it from him immediately, but I'm afraid it would cause him some stomach problems for days to come.A couple, Jason and Jessica, arrived shortly after us and pitched their tent nearby. After dark, another two thru-hikers arrived, Seurhawk and 007. Apparently, 007 gets his name from a "silent, but violent" flatulent tendency, and although I feel The Ninja would be more appropo, the spirit from which the name is derived is olfactorily valid I assure you.We went to bed fairly early as I recall, planning on hitting the Jenkins shelter the next day, where the privy is described as a "must see." Frankly, I'm suspicious.