Date: 2009-05-01
From: Vandeventer Shelter, TN

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: light rain

I made it to Virginia!!! Yeah!!! My official mileage is 463 miles. Virginia alone has over 500 miles, so I will be in this state awhile. They say the miles are easier in Virginia, but I don't really know who they are and I don't believe them anyway. Ha. They keep saying things like the next section is fairly flat and it is all down hill from here and it never turns out to be true. They don't know what flat means and the trail is never all downhill. I slept really good last night. I was asleep by 8:30 and slept until 6:30. I told you I was really tired. It started raining right after I woke up which means I packed a wet tent fly. It rained on and off all day, but nothing like the torrential downpours we experienced in Georgia. By the end of the hiking day it had stopped raining and I was back to shorts and my sleeveless shirt. The most exciting thing today was hitting the Tennessee/Virginia state line. Tanglefoot was at the sign when I reached it and we took pictures. I was so excited to reach Virginia! Three states down and eleven to go and I've been on the trail for 44 days. That makes my average miles per day at only 10.5 counting my zero days. I hope the miles start coming faster and a bit easier. Today was my most miles in one day at 18.5, but they were relatively easy with only a few smaller ascents to get over. To think I started at Srpinger and it would take me all day to do eight or nine miles and now I do that before lunch. So I guess the miles are coming easier and I do make it over the mountains faster then when I started. Coming down out of the mountains into the city I noticed that more and more trees are getting their leaves. It was beautiful! I saw a lot of maple and oak leaves. When I looked out over the valley I could see every shade of green imaginable. I just stopped and took it all in. I also noticed that when all the trees have their leaves, my views will be somewhat limited as you can imagine. Before when I would come into a town I'd have views of the town as I came down the side of the mountains. This time I'd only see a couple of views where there was a break between trees. Still love all the leaves and the greenness of the forest. It looks so alive and beautiful. Obviously, I ended up coming all the way into town. My feet were killing me and it was still threatening to rain, so I just followed Tanglefoot into town. First thing in the morning I'm going to the outfitters for new shoes. If I can't get my feet fixed, then I don't know how much longer I can hike. Every afternoon walking on extremely painful feet is not fun and makes me very grumpy (just ask poor Tanglefoot who has to be tired of me saying my feet hurt). I'm staying at Augusta's Appalachian Inn. A wonderful bed and breakfast run by Terry and Cissy. My bed is so soft and has real sheets and covers. I have my own private bath that I don't have to share with anybody. Total bliss! When I mentioned that my feet were bothering me, Cissy got me a bucket and Epsom salt to soak my swollen feet. Terry took my dirty clothes and said he would return them to me in a couple of hours. He said that they washed the hiker's clothes on super-duper dirty because they were so bad. Ha. I felt bad that someone besides me had to deal with my stinky clothes, but I was extremely grateful not to have to spend time at the laundromat. Delightful place and I'd recommend it to anybody looking to pamper themselves on the trail. Tanglefoot and I went to Dot's for dinner and then to get ice cream. Eating as much food as possible is extremely important in town. I don't really know whether I've lost much weight, but as my mileage climbs I will need more and more calories. Some of the other hikers give me a hard time because I still order diet Pepsi. Ha. I found out that Scout, Night Fight and James made the 50 miles in one day. Although they are all feeling the effects today. Scout said that he was mentally out of it when he hit town, but is okay after lots of water and a good nights rest. Congrats guys! I am taking a zero tomorrow to rest my feet and to get new shoes. Terry says that the outfitters here has been credited with saving many a hike by helping hikers get a well fit shoe. Hope they can help me!Going to bed early as normal. I soaked my feet and they feel better, but they still kill me. Looking forward to a nice soft bed.