Date: 2017-07-03
From: Glasgow (Stanimal's Hostel)

To: Tentsite at mile 808.3
Miles today: 23.5

7/3/17 Day 49 - 23.5 milesGlasgow (Stanimal's Hostel) to tentsite at mile 808.3Town days always go by fast and yesterday was no exception. Stanimals was a nice surprise mostly because of Bob and Donna, the caretakers. Bob runs the shuttles and Donna takes care of the guests. I liked them a little extra because they were from Philly too-they still had the accents. The place was newly redone and had great wifi, a nice tv, and a row of recliners in the living room. We had a nice group there as well, all hikers I hadn't met before. All but 1 were sections hikers and the only other thru had to take a bus back to PA to deal with some pending business.  So Bob dropped me off at the trailhead with Bumblebee and her mom, Just Helen. I had to get that huge climb in first thing while the temps were still cool. It wasn't too bad at all with fresh legs and I was at the top in no time. I was already a sweaty mess and the town shower was a distant memory. At the top, I could see the Doppler radar that I passed 2 nights ago, about 20 trail miles away. I could also see the foot bridge over the James River (see pics).  Just after lunch I passed the 800 mile mark!! These markers are just flying by!! I also met Breeze (thru-hiker from '91) and his son Little Ralphie who's thru-hiking this year. They were busy celebrating 800 with a couple tall boys so I pushed on. At the parking area, I met Blue Sky- wife/mother of the 2 guys I just mentioned and we chatted a bit till she offered me some nice cold fresh fruit- a trail luxury. I must look really pathetic now that strangers offer me food all the time. I have dropped to 175 and have been able to keep it there for a couple weeks. I really don't want to lose anymore. I've met people that just keep on losing and they get pretty week and really have to focus on getting more calories. I'm glad I don't have that added pressure.  I got to Brown Mountain Creek Shelter around 6 and was feeling good so I pushed on and figured I would take a chunk out of tomorrow's huge climb by getting started tonight. It's a 2900' climb over 4 miles. I managed to knock off 1500' over 2 miles and was getting nervous as it was getting late and there were no campsites. The terrain was so steep and there were no clearings for me to set up. The trail leveled off for a bit so I bushwhacked through some heavy growth to get to spot and set up my hammock. Cooked and ate and now I'm all comfy and in my clean clothes, rubbing my cramped up feet. The people at the hostel were explaining how our condition is called Christmas toe because we won't get the feeling back in our toes till at least Christmas. I'm 53 miles outside of Waynesboro and the southern entrance to Shenandoah. I'm pretty confident that I'll get there by early Thursday. I had planned on taking a 0 there, but if I can get there early enough maybe I'll just head out the next day. We'll see- I'm still terrible at planning my destinations and figuring out my food needs. The trail is just too unpredictable. And I guess I am as well. Gonna sleep good tonight and plan on doing a big day tomorrow for the 4th- no holiday for me.