Date: 2011-05-09
From: Vanderventer Shelter

To: campsite mile 448.3
Miles today: 16.8

Pretty good day despite the pain I endured especially the last mile of the day. Very good miles, double trail magic and perfect weather. Woke up early around 6 and had breakfast and packed my bag. Got on the trail at 7 and felt pretty good. First 6-7 miles was pretty normal to the next shelter where I stopped for my first big break and had some lunch around 11. Was there for about an hour relaxing before I got back on the trail. Next major break would be at the road crossing to Shady Valley about 4.5 miles away. About .4 miles before there is a big metal box with a bunch of holes and the top holes are crosses. Inside is the first trail magic of the day. As I walk up Scrubs and A Game tell me its carbonated and to look in the toolbox. Inside to box is a cooler with Sierra Mist (A Game drank the last DP), in the toolbox are little debbie fudge rounds and oatmeal creme pies. I had a drink and one each of the little debbies. I sat there about twenty minutes relaxing before moving on. .3 miles later as I get near the actual rode crossing I smell hamburgers on a grill and know this is going to be a great day. At the road I see what I was looking for and Lonestar and Cadence wave me over. Forest who hiked last year is grilling burgers and brats, there is also chips, more fudge rounds, starcrunches, coke, rootbeer, and some vegetable fruit smoothie stuff. I had a brat, burger, some chips, and a starkist. Also tried the smoothie and it was pretty good. It is fairly common for all the alums to come early to traildays and give some trailmagic and stay late after traildays as well doing the same. He also told us to look for him during the festival and he would be doing more of the same. Sat there about an hour before moving on to complete the last 3 miles of the planned 14.4 miles to the shelter. After I full stomach the journey was pretty slugish feeling but the miles went quick. Arrived at Double Springs shelter about 3:30 and just sat there talking with others for about an hour and a half before I decided to go a couple more miles to the campsite I am at now. It isn't getting dark until close to 8:30-9:00 now so had plenty of daylight left. First mile to mile and a half where good but started getting pretty sore and tired at the end. Found the campsite i was looking for and Scrubs was here though when he left the shelter he was going to the next one. After getting here I layed my mat out and read for a bit before eating. Didn't feel like cooking and cleaning so I just had some tortillas with velvetta and pepperoni which is probably my favorite lunch food now. Also had some bite sized snickers with peanut butter smeared on them. Now I am laying here Cowboy camping and ready to go to bed.A little about food, a am getting to where it is easier to buy things in bulk and saves a lot of money. Last shopping trip instead of getting 7 individual coffee sleeves for a dollar I bought a large bottle that has 60 servings for $6 and poured it in a ziplock. Also bought a large container of gatorade powder and did the same. Almost bought just a box of potatoes instead of the small packages but didn't really want potatos as I had them a lot while in Damascus.So as I am laying here writing this I hear a large crash in the forest and it makes me jump pretty good. Then about 10 seconds later an owl starts hooting. Apparently it knocked down a branch when it landed. Right after it starts a second ones starts in as well. They have bothed moved around a bit but continue hooting. One also started making some higher pitched sounds as well that sounded pretty funny. Tomorrow I want to do about 14 miles which will leave me 2 miles to Damascus the next day. Going to get in and out as fast as possible. I believe the church is also feeding hikers that day as well for lunch and they have free showers. Another highlight tomorrow is my official crossing of another stateline into Virginia. Go away shin splints! Maybe tomorrow.