Date: 2010-05-30
From: Waynesboro

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Sunday was a great lazy morning. We drove to Starbucks and got coffee, me a decaf. Coffee is an amazing drug! We sat there and talked about interesting things, or things that seem really interesting when you're drinking coffee! Felt great, though, and we could look out at the mountains at the same time. We drove back to town so we could sit outside. Found a church playground that had swings. It said we weren't allowed, but we figured they would want us to be there and enjoy the swings on a Sunday morning, so we went in anyway. It was getting hot in the sun there, though. Lish is wimpy and can't take it too long. We end up checking out a lake that another hiker had mentioned. Lake Sherando. Sounds like a movie star name to me for some reason. But we looked it up on the map, tracked it down, and paid the $5 to go in the state park and enjoy. We parked at the far end by the dam. As we hiked closer, there was an island I really wanted to go to, but I thought people weren't allowed on it. There were signs on it, and no one was there. Then, we got to the swimming area, and boy, there were a lot of people! We found a shady spot so we wouldn't get sunburned. Jumped in the lake, and Skippy jumped right on a rock! Ouch! I think he cut his foot on it, what a bummer. But now there's people on the island, and we decide to swim for it. It's a nice grassy island, with a good sunny spot to warm up after the cold water. The water is super shallow with mucky bottom, but it still feels nice. We swim back and hang out by the shore for a while. There's even more people now! I'm feeling a little bad for taking Skippy here, with all these tourists that are loud and kids screaming, when he's been out enjoying nature in a more solitary and peaceful way. We both fall asleep, though, so it must not be too bad. Skippy is the best nap taker I have seen! He's out for a while. I start to feel antsy and also chilled by my wet cotton swimwear. I didn't bring a real swimsuit. We head back, I take one more dip in the river on the other side of the dam. Sufficiently cooled off! On the way back we stop at a veggie stand in town. Pick up some veggies to grill, and some peaches. A bunch of hikers plan on grilling out for the big Memorial day weekend! We stop at Kroger also and pile up on the food. I get too much, probably, but I'm still sympathy eating, so it looks great. Brats, steak, salmon, yum! When we get back to the camping area there's tons more hikers! we call it tent city now. It seems like whenever there's a bunch of hikers camped out, like more than 5, it gets known as "tent city." Especially if it involves people taking a zero day. I might be wrong, though. But we do call it tent city. The hostel is closed Sunday nights, so everyone's here. I meet Michigan, Boo Boo, Cricket and others. And see Conan and Backwards again! So great to meet these folks that I've read and heard so much about! They are all so amazing for what they are doing, and I wish them all the best! They are all taking great care of each other! So there's one little park-style iron grill here by the picnic tables. It has moss growing in one side of it. The other side looks like it was used but not cleaned for a loooong time. Someone finds a metal spatula somewhere, and we use it to dig out the grill so we can cook. We had one little bag of charcoal, then Skippy and I broke off some dead tree branches and used that as well. There was a lot of grilling to do! One of the sticks hit me in the eye, but Skippy saved the day by pouring water in it. He has good experience with eye injuries. So there's one group of folks grilling on one side, using the charcoal. We got the other side going, with our sticks. The stick side is way better than the charcoal. I think I've converted Skippy for life. We grill the brats, fish, steak, corn on the cob, sweet potato, and maybe something else? Once it's done, Skippy creates the biggest sandwich I've seen, and looks like he's in heaven when he takes a huge bite out of it. The atmosphere is so great, everyone sharing this one grill so nicely, sharing food and condiments, bread, sharing eating space. Can this kind of thing happen in everyday life? I'm not sure. Usually we want our own space, our own grill and our own personal boundaries. But out here, everyone's glad to share and it's easy to be happy. Personal space still exists in each person's tent. But for the most part it's like a big family picnic. I hope everyone enjoys it and it makes up for missing any family celebrations back home. After I eat more than I should in several days, we get Ratman to drive us to the ice cream store! Skippy and I want ice cream. The other guys in the truck want to find the bar. We all get ice cream first, then find out the bar is close for the holiday I guess. We all head back. Everyone sits around talking, but all is pretty quite by dark. I'm impressed by this, and how people are pretty respectful of those that might be tired. I fall asleep while Skippy writes out his trail journal entries so that I can type them up when I get home. I don't sleep all that well. The ground feels extra hard on my back. I find out later why this might be, when I end up with a kidney infection! Ouch! But I'm so happy to be there outside, in the fresh air, Skippy next to me writing away, with no worries for the next day to distract me!