Date: 2021-06-03
From: Marion, VA

To: Tentsite at MM 552.6
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: broken clouds

June 3 - Marion, VA to Tentsite at MM 552.6 - 18.4 miles (444.5 trip miles) - 41610 steps Today was a very satisfying day. The Travel Inn of Marion was fine for 1 night. I was up early but we were told by our driver, Jim, to call him at 8 in the morning and he will come get us. Goob was staying another night to work on his feet so Boston Bill and I were packed and ready before 8. At about 5 to 8, who comes driving into the Inn parking lot? Jim. We grabbed our stuff, tossed it and us in the minivan and off we go. Things like this just seem to work out on the trail. Some hikers say ¢The trail provides.¢ I don¢t think like that but there does seem to be some truth to it. Even better, there was another couple already in the van going to a remote destination on a forest service road. BB and I got dropped off first. We were hiking by 820. The first 6.5 miles was 2 big pointless up and downs (PUD) over very rocky terrain. Nothing at all to see. We got to the Chatfield Shelter a little before noon and ate lunch and topped off water. From there it dropped a bit more, crossed a road and the rocks disappeared. The trail was much more level and our pace greatly increased. We went a few more miles, some in fields that had the trail mowed, and reached the Settlers Museum. We did not go in the museum but we went in the old one room schoolhouse from 1894 called Lindamood School. It was interesting how things were done back then. Back through more fields and gradual ups and downs. We were heading to the quickie mart near I-81 for some junk food. The last mile took forever. Maybe the guide was off a bit. When it said .2 to go it seemed more like .6. I loaded up on calories with a Moon Pie, large Milky Way and regular Mountain Dew. A quick 1000 calories I would never eat normally. I don¢t really have a ravenous hunger like a lot of hikers but if it¢s there, no matter how much, I will eat it. After this feast it was about 6.8 miles to our desired camp spot. No shelters in this area. We passed through some small fields and woods then reached a large open cow pasture. Had to watch out for large cow pies. The views back through the pasture were nice. After a series of decent climbs we reached our destination at 545. Good mileage in good time, even with stops. It¢s just us at the campsite. Water is close and there are few bugs. Today was the first day on this hike I have hiked in rain. It was light for about an hour. I did put on the pack cover because you don¢t want to do that once it is raining. The rain jacket went on for 5 minutes but the rain quickly stopped and off came the jacket. Really, an insignificant rain, but some hikers in Marion chose to take a Zero because of the rain potential. I don¢t get it. You won¢t get to Maine without the pain and the rain. But, HYOH. Tomorrow we are looking to get an earlier start as there are some good climbs and we prefer doing them when it is cooler early in the morning. If we make the 18 miles as planned we will camp at an old fire wardens hut that has been converted to a shelter, is in an open field and should have great views. We¢ll see. Regardless, tomorrow I will walk. And on that thought, the simplicity of what I am doing may be at the core of why I enjoy it. I don¢t have to worry about anything except breaking down camp in the morning, walking until I don¢t want to walk any more and setting up camp in the early evening. Really, that¢s it. Sure, resupply, cell coverage, electronics charging, calories, etc. are in the back of my mind, but they aren¢t that important to the daily activity. Just get up and walk. Until tomorrow.