Date: 2011-05-12
From: Thornton Gap, US 221, Luray

To: Tom Floyd Wayside
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Awoke at 7:45AM. Quickly went next door to pick up coffee and a breakfast sandwitch from the gas station. The boys were there again today drinking their coffee together. Got packed up and out the door by 7:50AM. Got a ride in about 10 minutes. A 28 year old named Jason. He had just gotten off work. He is a supervisor with Walmart. He dropped me off close to the trail and I started hiking about 8:20AM. The terrain today was made for big mileage. Very few climbs and a lot of level walking. Stopped at the last wayside campstore in the park around 11:15AM. They had a grill so I ordered a Bacon Cheeseburger, fries and two Gatorades. I was back on the trail within 30 minutes. I really wanted to do a lot of miles today because the weather is supposed to start going down hill tomorrow. Got to the Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter at 6:00pm. I am now officially out ot the Shenandoah National Park. The only person at the shelter is KIDBEK which means duffle bag in Israeli. KIDBEC is visiting from Israel. He is 29 and is taking a break from getting his masters. He has been in the states for a year. His mother is a US citizen, so is he, but he also is an Israeli citizen. He served the 3 year mandatory term in the army there. He would like to do film documentaries for a living but as his brother said "there is no money in that". He is trying to determine what to do for a career. He just started hiking from Harper's Ferry and is going south. He plans to hike for 30 days to somewhere close to Roanoke. He has to return to Israel on June 15th for graduate school. His pack is pretty heavy, 55lbs, he started with 65lbs! He says it is not a problem for him. He is averaging about 10 miles a day. The weather today was warm and humid. The biting gnats were out in full force. I felt and probably looked like "Pig Pen" from the Peanut comics walking down the trail. Just a cloud of gnats circling my head! My foot held up well thanks to Vitamin I. Did 24.8 miles today which puts me less than 60 miles to go. I am looking forward to getting home and seeing my wife Glenda and my boys. It is a hazy day today.KIDBEC at the shelter.First Previous Next LastHiker Entries May 12, 2011JournalistDestinationTrailCanaryCherokee, NCAppalachian TrailPortable GDay 0Appalachian TrailFoxtrotStratton Pond ShelterThe Long Trail - VermontGooch GapAppalachian TrailHippy KippyVandeventer ShelterAppalachian TrailLocomotive BreathSpring Mountain ShelterAppalachian TrailOne TrackDamascus, VaAppalachian TrailVictusVernonAppalachian TrailHoldenBig Bear Lake, CAPacific Crest Trail~Lemur(53) Paul Wolfe ShelterAppalachian TrailMore...Grouped By Trail... I am excited and restless. I wanted to climb that last mountain the moment I saw her. It's hard to believe this adventure ends tomorrow, that this is our last night in the woods, that we won't be surrounded by this awesome community after we summit. ...    stretch & barking spider ¢Appalachian Trail2013HikingTrailsJournalsPhotosCalendarGearLinksPartnersULA EquipmentREIPatagoniaNetworkTrail ForumsTrail NewsAbout UsContactDonateJoinLoginHelpFollow UsFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterest LinkedinTop Photo © Jerry Lutgen - The Wonderland Trail, 09/10/2002 by CookieTrailjournals LLC © 2024All Rights Reserved. privacy policyNewburyport, MA 01950Terms under which this service is provided to you. Build: 20210226:165913Manage Settings