Date: 2017-06-15
From: Reeds Gap/Devil's Backbone Brewery 

To: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter Tent Site 
Miles today: 14.1

6/15Reeds Gap/Devil's Backbone Brewery to the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter Tent Site 14.1 miles Total miles:  856.9I woke up at my regular time this morning but was in no hurry to pack up, since the shuttle back to the trail wasn't until10:00.  I was one of the first hikers to get to the cafe to order a hiker's breakfast. At one time, Devil's Backbone only provided breakfast for hikers, but now the cafe is open to all.  The hiker's breakfast consists of two eggs over easy, bacon, fried potatoes, a biscuit, and coffee.  That sounded great to me.  In fact, it was so great that the Hobbit in me came out, and I ended up ordering an entire "second breakfast."  Dakota, Melanie, and London (the chef) were all super friendly and graciously posed for a photo.  I also remet a very nice family in the cafe.  I had briefly met Paul, his daughter Melanie, and her son Kayler the evening before, and we struck up a good conversation this morning.  Paul filled me in on some of the history of Devil's Backbone Brewery, and we also discussed the local area and touched a bit on baseball (he was wearing a Nationals hat). Kayler had a Grover doll, and I told Melanie about the greatest Sesame Street book of all time, The Monster at the End of this Book.  It soon became time for me to pack up for the trail, and they posed for a quick photo before I excused myself.  Thanks, guys!  On my way out the door, I walked around Maple, who was getting ready to continue hiking with her human, Jason, by resting on the outside deck of the cafe.  Maple is a great trail dog who I also got to know yesterday.  Jason told me she was a rescue dog who was found as a puppy abandoned in a box in the snow. He told me her history, and I told him about our dog Roxie, who had been a breeder dog until the age of eight.  Roxie, a very special Yorkie, spent those first eight years of her life primarily in a cage, but then she lived another ten years with us.  She might not have been cut out to be a trail dog, but she was a special part of our family for a long time and we all loved her very much. I realized if I didn't get a move on I risked missing the shuttle, so I patted Maple one last time, and returned to the tent area and packed my gear. I made it in plenty of time.  The shuttle was a bit late, but we were all back on the trail by 10:45, still with plenty of time to cover the 14.1 miles that were the plan for the day.  Within a half mile, I encountered more trail magic.  According to the note written on the case of Coors Light sitting on the trail, a hiker named Nothin' Yet had experienced a very bad day on that spot and wanted other hikers to enjoy a beer.  They were still cold, and Gravity and I drank one right there, proving once and for all that we ain't no beer snobs.  Thanks, Nothin' Yet, for the beer.  I hope your days get better.  The trail today was a mixture of easy trail and rocks, although their were no big ascents or descents.  I did have another mishap and tripped over a rock, this time landing on my right knee and my hands.  Fortunately, I wasn't injured, and simply told off the rock (which didn't seem to phase it much) and continued on. I encountered some very impressive views and met two southbound hikers who told me of rattlesnakes ahead. Unfortunately, I didn't see one, although the open, sunny rocks were a perfect place for them.  I came across another piece of long forgotten history, as I hiked along a stone wall/fence for several miles.  Someone put a huge amount of work into that wall.  Too bad they didn't also use the rocks on the trail, which I'm assuming was a long abandoned road.  Although it was getting a bit late, I decided to take the side trail to visit The Rocks.  These massive rock structures jut out from the cliff side and hang out far over the valley below.  I scrambled to the top of the larger one to look around.  There was a couple on the smaller of the rocks who were in perfect position to take a great picture of me, but they were, shall we say, involved with each other so I didn't want to disturb them. Back on the trail, I came upon Gravity, who didn't take the side trail.  We hiked together for a few miles until we came to the Glass Hollow Overlook side trail.  Gravity decided not to go down the 0.2 mile trail, as he was concerned about the possibility of an upcoming thunderstorm.  I did go down to the overlook, which didn't actually provide much of a view.  What I did get a clear view of was the rapidly darkening sky. This old man really threw it into overdrive the last 1.8 miles to the campsite. It became very dark and the wind picked up as thunder rumbled in the distance.  I caught up with Gravity as we both motored on.  We made it to the tent site, got out tents set up and our packs inside, literally a minute before the rain began falling in earnest and the storm hit. The rain abated long enough for me to get water and hang my food bag from the bear pole (I didn't eat a cooked supper).  I set up inside my tent and went to bed. As I write this, it is absolutely pouring outside, but all is well inside the tent.  Tomorrow is a short five miles to Rockfish Gap and a shuttle ride into Waynesboro.  My friend, Mike, is already there waiting for me.  After several days of alternatively hiking in very warm, sunny weather and then the now daily thunderstorm, I have developed such an advanced case of "hiker funk," that it is getting difficult for mr to stand myself. Tomorrow will be a "nearo." A short hike in, and then a one night stay at the Quality Inn to shower, do laundry, resupply food and a few other supplies, and eat a lot of food somewhere. We'll start hiking the Shenandoahs on Saturday morning.