Date: 2013-05-12
From: Partnership Shelter

To: VA 683, US 11, I-81- Travel Inn, Marion, VA
Miles today: 11.6

Happy Mother's Day! I slept so well. It rained on and off all night. But it was tough tell between rain and pine needles falling on my rainfly. The pine straw below my tent was heaven. A soft bed if there ever was one! I slept until 7:15. What can I say, I was tired! I debated between cold pizza and granola. I opted for cold pizza because it was heavier. I ate the pizza while I packed up. It was cold. Probably high 30s, low 40s. Optimistically I had on only a my hiking skirt, t-shirt and fleece, but almost immediately I added the rain pants and my rain jacket. The wind was so cold it made the hair on my legs stand up, and they looked like furry pony legs.I could hear the large group start to sing "wake up" songs. I growled under my breath. It made me feel like an cantankerous old biddy. I packed up and headed out. I apologized to Bitter Goat for not being more social the night before. I wanted to get out early to get away from the crowds. I dropped my garbage in the big dumpster at the end of the parking lot, crossed the road and climbed the trail into the woods. It was cold and windy. My fingers were aching. I'm tired of my fingers aching. I heard the large group do a cheer and "break" as they headed out. I tried to hike faster, but my legs were still tired. The trail climbed a rocky hill. Lots of trees were blown over. It looked like a war zone. I could hear the group getting closer. They were whooping and hollering. I was 2/3 up the hill, and they were right on my tail. I stepped to the side to let them pass. Fifteen hikers right in a row, nose to ass. "Make way for the train!" one of them said to me. It took awhile for the group to pass. Finally, I stepped in behind them. But there was a group of six coming up fast. I stepped aside for them. Despite my best efforts, I was annoyed. Groups of that size are disruptive to the forest and to other hikers. The group got to the top of the hill and stopped. They bunched up. I had to pick my way through the blockage to keep going. I got half way through the group, and the head of the pack set off again. I was caught in the middle. Again, I stepped aside to let them pass again. Fortunately, they soon peeled off the trail and bush-whacked it through the woods. They had plans to volunteer on a local farm. At least they were using their powers for good!I climbed along a ridge for a while. It was quiet except for the winds and bird songs. I pulled out a slice of pizza and ate it as I walked. It tasted so good, and it made virtually no impact on my stomach. There were a series of beautiful green pastures. The sky was so, so blue. The first bluebird day in what seems like weeks. The grass was impossibly green, dotted with yellow flowers, standing knee-high. It's the kind of day that makes you want to put on a wispy cotton dress, take off your shoes and go for a walk. Some of the grassy fields were so wet, it seemed like I was walking through rice paddies. I passed the Lindemood Farm and Settler's museum. There was a farm, an old school, and several other buildings. There was a large lilac tree in full blossom. It's perfumes had largely been washed away in the rain. You had to bury your nose deep in the bouquet to enjoy its scent.   I finally made it within earshot and eye-shot of I-81. That's where I was headed. I-81 runs through Watertown. It felt strange to see such a connection to home. After many switchbacks that seemed to be there just to harass and tease the hiker, I made it down to the road. I turned right and walked up the hot asphalt towards The Barn. It's hot town food, and I have a maildrop there. I snuck in the door at 2:20. The waitress said to seat myself. I asked to see the menu, but opted for the $7.99 Sunday buffet. There was a 3 plate limit, and a sign that asked patrons to be considerate of other diners. I was sure that was there for hikers. I loaded my first plate half full of apple cobbler. The other parts were green beans, peas, and fried okra & shrimp. Round 2 was another half plate of apple cobbler, a half pint of vanilla ice cream, more peas, and more fried okra & cobbler. Dreamer popped in. She and Chad were outside waiting for me. I opted out of my 3rd plate, and instead I joined them. We found a cheap room in town, made a run to the grocery store, did our laundry and drank black and tans. At midnight my phone rang, it was Tom! We chatted for bit, but then work took him away. I crawled back in my bed with a smile on my face.