Date: 2018-04-21
From: Chatfield shelter

To: Lick Creek
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Yet another early morning we all raced out of camp to get 4 miles to a restaurant that was on trail. Food makes us all move quick! On these 4 miles we passed some cool sites! The first was the settlers museum which opens an old school house to hikers to sleep in, tent at or to just take a break. It's really cool and an awesome place. I used the privy here then explored the inside. It was open as a school until 1937 and now sits on museum property. The local hiking group keeps it stocked with trail magic including food, cold drinks and toiletries! I grabbed a Gatorade and a new toothbrush while Soothe grabbed a small carabinier he needed. We took pictures and admired the place. It was really cool!After that we passed along railroad tracks and entered the outskirts of Atkins, VA where there are two gas stations and The Barn Restaurant. As a group we went into the restaurant and had breakfast. We all ate so much but felt super bad for the waitress who was on her own with probably 15 hikers and a few locals. Food was good but they didn't allow us to charge our phones inside? Only outside? Seemed strange. I was the rebel who hid my phone under a hat and managed to go unnoticed as it charged.After breakfast I hit the trail hard. I always do so well with good food in me. I traveled across a bunch of rolling hills and up and down small mountains. The terrain wasn't too difficult but had it's tough sections. It was really beautiful though and the sun was shining and it was around 70 degrees after a cold 32 degree night.I hiked through a bunch of easements that the AT has over private property. There were signs warning us to stay on trail unless we had written permission from property owners. We all had no issues though. I continued hiking and ran into a few section hikers. They were more specifically LASHers which stands for Long A$$ Section Hikers. Two older guys hiking that were fairly nice. They talked to me for probably 20 minutes even though I was itching to move on. Unfortunately though the AT is typically only big enough for one person to hike and they weren't letting me pass. Eventually I managed to get by and said my goodbyes! Then, as I turned the corner, their friend was standing in the trail apparently taking a picture of the valley area. He turned his camera as he saw me and took a picture of me traveling down hill at him probably from only 10-15 feet away. He didn't say a word as I awkwardly said hello so I just moved along at a bit quicker pace. Very strange. I know I look like an animal but please, no pictures! HahaI hiked with two clicks for the afternoon after taking a late lunch and we reached a campsite that they had all planned on stopping at. I was feeling good and it was only 4:15 so I decided to push on another 3 miles to another campsite. This would give me the chance to sleep in! But I think I made the right move. I arrived at the campsite in under an hour and found honeybun sitting there. We chatted and I returned to him his official thru hiker tag given to him at Springer mountain. He had dropped it along the way but it was finally reunited. He wasn't feeling great hiking today but pushed on another 5 or so miles with Stylo to a shelter. I pitched my tent across the stream from a few section hikers and settled in for the night. I had a pasta side with black beans added in and 3.5 servings of pre cooked chicken. I know I've lost weight but I'm really trying! Ask anyone, I'm a big eater but I just can never get enough out here and anything I want I have to carry so it's been hard. I promise I'm eating the best I can! More than a lot of others! I followed dinner up with dried fruit, a protein bar, goldfish and a Hershey bar. It was a great dinner and I attempted to plan out the next few days of hiking. Still unsure but I'll make it work! Hoping to take a long Nearo at Woods Hole Hostel in the next few days where I've heard it's amazing! Falling asleep to the sound of the creek on this beautiful night!