Date: 2010-06-05
From: Little Hogback Mtn/ Front Royal, VA

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

Just another day with the slackpacker extraordinaire!I got a bit of a late start, as Braids and I sat around talking a bit before I went to the post office. I picked up two packages- one from home and one from Jessica Bearden, a very good, old friend who is also my faithful journal transcriber this month. I was very excited, but decided that I should wait to open them until after my hiking day.We wanted to hike northbound today, since that would provide us with a lot more downhill than up, but this required much more difficult logistics. We had to get back around through the SNP entrance and up Skyline Drive and certainly didn't want to pay an expensive shuttle driver fee. Braids made a sign from the pizza box top reading, "SNP-Skyline Drive", and we set off walking across town towards 340, which leads to the park entrance. As we walked down the sidewalk, one of us held the sign overhead, facing backwards, and the other held out a thumb. Before long, a father and son pulled over and took us to the park entrance. We were just getting out of the car when the very first truck passed by and picked us up. This was a couple of guys on vacation, about to go for a day hike. They took us part-way in, to a visitors' center, where we hitched again. it took quite a while (and one very rude couple making fun of us), but eventually a great Iranian family picked us up. We spent the ride talking about our cultures and languages (they live in the US, but still have very strong cultural ties). It was one of the neatest hitches yet!They dropped us where we left off yesterday, and off we went. We had a fun and fast hike, at one point passing Seeker, who left pretty early this morning to do the same section SoBo.We were back at the hotel by 4 or 5 for a nice swim with Red Hat, followed by a relaxing evening. I finally got to go through my packages. I got my train tickets (so exciting!) from home, and an AMAZING care package from the Bearden family. I actually think I failed to introduce this month's journal transcriber, so I'll do that here. Jessica and I were dear friends in high school. When college and life happened, we drifted a bit, keeping in touch, but not spending much time together. When I moved back to Georgia, we began to reconnect. In hanging out socially and in my babysitting her children, it soon felt like no time had passed at all! I am SO grateful to have her back in my life and to be involved with the whole family (Jess fell in love, married, and started a beautiful family with Matt, another good high school friend.) Love You!!So, as though transcribing a month's worth of journals is not enough, Jess and family sent me an incredible care package. It had practical things like baby wipes and sunscreen, savory snacks like cheese and sausage, a fun pack of UNO cards (which I probably won't carry too long, but will at least carry until the river boat), and lots of candy, which Jess knows I adore. I was so touched by this perfect package, but especially blown away by the incredibly supportive note and that she is so gung-ho about my trip that she even included some cash to help me along, which will pay for my 1/2 of the room at the Town's Inn in Harpers Ferry. Thank you SO VERY MUCH for your support of my journey!!!The rest of the evening was lovely and relaxing, as Braids, Seeker, and I have just watched both Baby Mama and Juno. What a great evening!Postscript, June 8, 2011: What a fantastic day! Thanks again to Jess- miss you! Those Uno cards did, in fact, to on the river boat with me, and they were a hit. We had so much fun playing Uno, and our British friends, Dave and Lena, were totally entralled with the game. I ended up sending the cards home with them to pass on the fun across the sea!