Date: 2016-06-07
From: Stealth campsite on Humpback Mountain

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: clear sky

We didn't have any bear attacks last night, but I did have a nosebleed attack. I woke up about 1:30 and found that I was having a nosebleed, and frantically started feeling around for my bandana to stop the flow. I get these occasionally in the dry Kansas winter, and not sure what brought it on out here. Trying to deal with it in a small tent with nothing but a cloth bandana was not fun. I eventually hoped out of my tent and went scrounging through my pack for some toilet paper to try to help stop it. As I was dealing with the nosebleed I did get to notice that there were stars again, though the trees blocked and chance to see the various constellations. I finally got the bleeding to stop and crawled back in my tent. Hopefully it wouldn't reoccur. I slept all the way to 7 am, getting some of the best sleep I've had in a while. Ironwill and Waldo were packing up their packs and getting ready to go. I retrieved my food back from the tree I had put it in last night, relieved that bears hadn't messed with it.After breakfast I packed up and headed down the trail, only 9 miles to Waynesboro, or Wayne's World as I had taken to calling it. Not too far down the trail I saw another bear, about 25 yards away, but moving away from me. By the time I could get my phone out to take a picture he was about 50 yards away and was sitting next to a tree just watching me. We watched each other for a while and then I moved on. My second bear! I arrived at the Paul C. Wolfe Memorial Shelter about 11 am and took a break and got some water. This was a really nice shelter and had a beautiful steam in front of it. It would have been a good stop for the night. As I was eating a snack a day hiker pulled in and introduced himself as Sharkey. He was a local and had thru hiked the AT 3 times already. We talked for a while and he passed on some suggestions and tips for up the trail. I headed out, only 5 miles to go and I would be eating people food again. The trail went up and followed a ridge, and was mercifully level for quite a while. This is what I had always imagined the AT should be - a level trail, no rocks, a cool breeze, dappled sunlight shining through the trees, views down into the valley, and if they could only add few playful bears and a deer or two the picture would be complete. There were no more bears but I did start to hear highway sounds and knew I was getting close to the road. I popped out into Rockfish Gap and what a change! There was the Blue Ridge Parkway with a bunch of Harleys driving by, the entrance to the interstate, a hotel, several abandoned buildings and a trailer advertising Kings Gourmet Popcorn. It kind of assaults your senses, and yet excites you. I called the B&B where I would be staying and headed for King's Gourmet Popcorn. There were a number of locals there as well as a few hikers including Ironwill and Waldo. I ordered a hot dog, a Coke, and a popcorn and joined Ironwill and Waldo at their picnic table. Waldo had twisted an ankle coming down the mountain so they were going to zero here. I hadn't decided whether to zero here or head into the Shenandoah tomorrow yet, but would see how much I could get done this afternoon. The B&B owner, Bill, showed up and I loaded my stuff into his vehicle. Bill gave me the scenic tour of Waynesboro to orient me on where the hiker essentials were -restaurants, laundry, post office, grocery store. We pull into the Tree Street Inn B&B and it was beautiful. This is not a typical hiker stay, this house was majestic! With a pool, gardens, elegantly furnishings and decorations, it was like it was out of a magazine! Bill showed me to my room and I plopped my stuff down. The first thing I needed to do was get to the post office before it closed, a short 4 block walk. My daughter had sent me a care package and it turned out to be quite a bonanza - coconut chocolate chip cookies, some candies and gum, and a picture my granddaughter had "colored" for me!Back to the Inn I took a long shower and got my laundry ready. I had already decided that tomorrow would be a zero day. I wasn't going to be able to get everything done this afternoon and this was too nice a place to leave after one night. I went down to the pool and took a relaxing swim and laid in the sun. It felt so good! After a while it clouded up and started to rain. I went in and grabbed my laundry and walked to the laundromat, about half a mile away. The rain had only lasted a few minutes so it was a pleasant walk seeing old Waynesboro. I got my laundry going and went across the street to a pizza place where I had some of the best garlic breadsticks I've ever had. It felt really good to be in a town once again, warm bread and clean clothes!I walked back to the Inn and dropped off my laundry. I then walked back another 5 blocks to downtown Waynesboro to the famous Ming's Chinese Buffet. It's a typical AYCE Chinese Buffet but is a legend in the AT community - Georgia to Ming's they say. It was good, not amazing, but it did give me an opportunity to sample a bunch of different items. I walked back to the Inn in the dark and absolutely crashed. My belly was more than full, I was in an elegant inn, and tomorrow would be a zero day. Life was good on the trail.