Date: 2004-08-23
From: Bland, VA

To: VA 606 Hollybrook Camp
Miles today: 18.0

After another hot shower this AM, I enjoy a great breakfast at where else but Subway. The french toast there is made from their home baked bread and is oh sooo good. I leisurely sit there and drink coffee. After being there for about 45 minutes, for some reason one of the ladies working there says, "Sir in the future leave your backpack outside". I laughingly say there probably won't be a next time as I am just hiking thru town. She doesn't see the humor. And when I ask why no backpacks are allowed she says she doesn't know. I parnoidly figure since the place just opened two weeks ago that I may be the first hiker they have had. And then I conclude that she lives near where those "don't wander far from the trail" signs were a few miles south on the AT. I then walk into Bland to find an ATM and the IGA grocery. At the grocery, I leave the backpack outside by a bench and go inside to buy some food for the next few days. While wandering around the store, Traildreamer appears and says "want a ride back to the trail?" Wow that's why you leave a backpack outside! Traildreamer is really a trailangel. She waits outside while I finish my shopping and then drives me out by the Interstate near the AT. It's just before 11 AM and I hope to make Jenny Knob shelter this afternoon about 9 miles away. The trail to Jenny Knob is easy, no big elevation gains or losses. But I can tell no one has passed here today or even yesterday as there are lots of cobwebs strung across the trail. I always envision some ambitious spider never giving up on his dream of lassoing one of those big creatures that walk on two feet along the trail. Since the trail is easy I get to Jenny Knob just after 3 PM. There's a friendly deer that is grazing about 75' from the shelter. But there's also a lot of bugs. I haven't had any problem with bugs on the AT except for those bee stings in 2002. So after a short break, I decide to push on to an unknown place further ahead. It's amazing how a good shower perks me up for the day's hike. The miles tick off and soon I am within reach of a grocery and campsite on VA #606. I cross an architecturally fantastic footbridge at Kimberling Creek. I just can't quite get it all in my camera's viewfinder. Man what a nice piece of work. Then it's about a mile down the road to a spot that I am not sure of its name. It's across from a lumber mill and is either called Rock Gap or Hollybrook. The young lady there tells me the camp has showers and is just up a little path about 300 yards. A man in line ahead of me offers to let me sit on his truck's tailgate while he drives me up there. His name was Morehead and he lives in the area. Another hiker friendly guy. I enjoy talking with him and we talk about 15-20 minutes by the camp before he leaves. The camp has no one else staying there except a bunch of old trailers that Morehead said hunters use. But it's fine and I set up the tarp, take a shower and have supper. The store stays open until nine so I saunter down there for some coffee and to replinish my cigarillo supply. While sitting out front on a bench, some locals tell me of Dismal Falls, just up the road about a mile. They leave just as a real hillbilly type sits down on the bench and immediately lets me know of his recent problems with the law. He is due in court on some recent minor charges. I advise him to tell the judge his story and beg for the best. He tells me " Ah wood but Ahm alreadee on probachun". He keeps moving closer to me on the 6-8 foot bench. Hikerodomy flashes in my head, but I don't want to know and don't ask about why he's on probation. So I excuse myself to go to a pay phone about 100 yards from the store. I notice a fat no shirt guy joins him on the bench after I leave. Oh shit now there's two of them. After calling Patricia, I sneak out of their sight hoping they don't realize I am staying all alone in the deserted campsite. My imagination starts working overtime. Maybe I really should start carry an asault rifle in my backpack. Back at the camp, I lay awake for quite a while listening for anything that might be coming my way. Fortunately nothing but a stray cat does.