Date: 2005-04-20
From: Tracking Mailar, Mile Marker 76.3, Blue Ridge Pkwy

To: IT IS DONE - Condo at Virginia Beach, Va.
Miles today: 1.1

1.1 miles todayCondo at Virginia Beach, Va. I woke up with the tailgate of my truck open towards the James River Foot Bridge so I wouldn't miss Mailar when he came across, so I just layed there in the back of the truck and ate breakfast and enjoyed my morning coffee. I decided to just wait there and see if Mailar showed up. If he stayed at Matts Creek Shelter last night, he would be by this morning. I read my book until 9:30am and then decided to get out and stretch. Since Mailar hadn't showed up yet, I walked across the bridge and the 2 miles to the shelter to see if anyone was there. There was a register and Mailar had signed it 2 days before!! What was he doing there 2 days ago?? He said in his last journal entry that he would be here today. Just when I'm looking for him he gets energy and walks extra miles to make it hard to find him. Well, I tried for the last 2 days to find him, but now I was out of time because I had to pick Moosie and Goldilocks up later today. I went ahead and finished my thru hike by walking north 1.1 miles from the river to the first road crossing and then walking back again...kind of seemed like a non-event. My hike is finally over, not in 365 days, but in 355 days. Oh well, it's nice to have it done. Now I really have to decide what I'm doing next. It was a fun hike, but if I do another one, it will be a more traditional sobo hike without my truck anywhere close to me. :-))) It was actually a very nice section of trail to finish on. The trail ran along side a creek the whole way and was very scenic. I walked along still trying to figure out what's next for me and I think I might have figured it out, but I don't want to say anything until I'm sure. I have been known to change my mind. ;-))) I got back to the truck and drove through Glasgow to see if I saw any other hikers. I didn't, so I left for the small mountain road where I'm picking up Moosie and Goldilocks. I knew they only had 15 miles to walk today, so I figured they would be there early. When I got to the summit on the road, I saw Goldilocks layed out on a big rock and he looked like he was sleeping. They were glad to see me and asked if I had any food...at least they were glad to see me whan I said that I brought food. ;-))) We all ate and decided to head over to Virginia Beach where Mrs Moosie was flying in to see me and asked if I would bring her son, Goldilocks along and if her husband Moosie wanted to come, I could bring him too. I asked Moosie if she knew we were coming tonight instead of tomorrow morning which is when we had planned on getting there. He said; "No, but we would surprise her." I said; "Are you sure you shouldn't call??" "Nope, she'll like the surprise." Well, we got there at 1am and she wouldn't answer the door, so we all had to sleep in the truck. Since it was my truck, (and I suggested calling first) I slept in the back of the truck and Moosie and Goldilocks layed down the seats and slept there in the front.Another great day on the A.T.Note; I'm writing this on the morning of the 21st. Mrs Moosie said she heard the knocking on the door at 1am, but she wasn't going to answer it at that time of night...she wasn't expecting anyone. Ha!!! :-)))