Date: 2016-05-15
From: US 60, Buena Vista, VA

To: Piney River North Fork
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: broken clouds

We headed out for breakfast but everything was closed since it was Sunday. We ended up at Hardy's which was a very long walk. All of us but Sweet Potato decided to walk back and head out. Sweet Potato decided to go to a church service then catch up to us. We got a taxi and started hiking at noon. We took off and of course Oriole soon left us behind. Oriole has a fast pace that is hard to keep up with but when he gets into the next gear, forget it! He is gone. I passed the mother and daughter that stayed at the same shelter a few days ago. I chatted with them a bit then went on my way. I decided to call Verizon just to check on my phone and guess what, it was being shipped to my home town again!!!!! It should not surprise me but I asked for a supervisor and let her know what I had been through so far and I did not understand how they could fail to get me the phone so many times. She was no help. She only made excuses. After 30 minutes of getting nowhere I told her to just let it go to my home and I will get someone to mail it to me since they cannot do it! I am really condensing what was said. OK, now I just have to get it overnighted to Waynesboro and it will be done. I will try to forget about them for a couple of days. With it being a Sunday and a cool clear day there were many day hikers out. I crossed paths with Sparky, Freight Train and Hong Kong Steve, who were slack packing. I think they slack pack 80% of the time...they are fun to talk to. We were rewarded with some really great views throughout the hike. I also met Missing Person, a section hiker heading our direction. We arrived at our destination, Piney River North Fork, which is not a river but creek. Oriole was already there. Juan and I set up our tents. It was pretty cool by then, probably mid 40's. This campsite was very eerie looking, like something out of a Walt Disney witch movie. The trees were growing on the boulders and you could see the roots holding on like you would wrap your hand around a baseball. There was a lot of green moss and it was damp. We made a fire when Sweet Potato arrived. We were kidding that she probably met some church members and they took her to a bbq! We were not far off...they had a potluck after service so she had a feast. The minister and his wife even took her back to get her tent and drove her out to the trailhead. It was a good day for Sweet Potato! Juan Durer is working for a pod cast group, "Sounds of the Trail" He is interviewing hikers on the trail about different topics. He interviewed Oriole, Sweet Potato and myself. We may be on the podcast. Our fire was going good when Black Santa, Savage and Shaggy(now McDoubles) arrived, they got behind us because they went to Trail Days in Demascus. Apparently it was worth the trip they got a lot of freebies like new packs and gear. Crisscross and Sunray were trying to get a ride to Trail Days. I hope they made it and had fun. I made Ramen, peanut butter, mashed potatoes and peanuts for dinner...yes all together and it is good. I had a hard time sleeping tonight because it was so cold but I did rest, at least there is no rain.