Date: 2003-06-01
From: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

Not surprisingly, only a few people were up and going before 7am. Most of us slept until 7:30 or later. It was quite windy all night long, but not cold temperatures, maybe upper 50s. Hotdog and I were planning on resupply in Linden, and Gary offered to drive us there. We met him at a road 1 mile north of the shelter and went to a small grocery store. There was adequate resupply for the 3 days we'd take to get to Harpers Ferry.After buying our goods, the three of us stood out front chatting. I made some calls to home and to relatives near DC. (I had had the wrong number for my relatives, and coincidentally, the greeting on the voice mail said the person's name was Connie, same as my cousin. The second time I called I realized it said 'Bonnie' not 'Connie' so I called my dad for the correct number.) I mentioned to Gary that one thing I really missed, on the trail was MY music. Lucky for me, he had some of my" music. He thought he had Metallica's Black Album, but didn't. However, he did have some Def Leppard, which I enjoyed thoroughly. Gary was planning on going to a barbeque in the afternoon, and kept asking us if we wanted to go. He didn't just ask though, he mentioned juicy, bbq ribs (my favorite), corn on the cob, cold drinks. He mentioned them again. And again. I think we stood outside the store for so long, debating on a day off with a cook-out. Finally, after a couple of hours, w! e went back to the trail. I was still thinking about bbq ribs. At the trailhead, two ladies came down the AT and wanted their pictures taken near the AT sign, as they'd just hiked a little bit on it, for the first time. We obliged, and asked for a return favor, handing them our three cameras for our pictures. Once they heard Hotdog and I were thruhikers, they took our pictures too. Celebreties!At 11:45, we hit the trail, thinking we'd shoot for 15 more miles for the day. We stopped for lunch at Manassas Gap Shelter, and met 5 dayhikers, each with a dog. We had a good conversation with each of them, especially with a couple that lived on a nearby ridge. They asked a lot of questions, and asked if we needed anything. We were pretty well set with our supplies and thanked them for the offer.We left there around 2:25 and before getting to Dick's Dome Shelter, met two dayhikers out for a 10-mile loop hike. We helped them out with directions, and they followed us for a while, asking a bunch of questions about thruhiking. They turned back at Dick's Dome Shelter and we continued on. It was about 9 miles to the next shelter, and only 4:30pm. We had the thought that we could make it there, and eventually did, well before 8pm. Josh, Alicia, Paparazzi, Mule, B-Roc, Dutch Tulip, Happy Pappy, Mr.Ed and Hoser were already here, some tenting.My feet were sore today, and I might have gotten a few blisters on my toes. I can't believe we did nearly 18 miles after noon today! I didn't think it was possible, and unfortunately, now the standard will be "we can do it; we did 18 after noon one day!" Tomorrow is the "Rollercoaster", where the trail goes over 10 ridges in 13 miles. The climbs aren't too high, just an annoying series of them. Our long day today will pay off in making the next two into Harpers Ferry easier.I am, once again, SO looking forward to a shower and laundry! It's been 8 days, and will be 10 by the time I get a shower. With all the mud, and my usual sweat, I am once again filthy, muddy, and stinky. Nothing new really. One day out of town can turn me into that pretty easily. Oh well. It's nice to be clean, even if for just a day!I kept thinking today about the people who give trail magic. They spend their time and money to give us hikers something special. A cold drink, or fresh fruit is so awesome to me! I really appreciate their efforts. And Gary inviting us to a cookout, was just awesome! I was so tempted, but have Harpers Ferry on my mind, and had Def Leppard playing in my head.I am glad that others get so much pleasure out of my journal. I wanted it so that I have a record of what I did, and what I felt. But I had no idea that others would enjoy it so much. It makes me feel good to know that.