Date: 2007-05-14
From: U.S. 220, Daleville

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Wow! What a great day this has been for hiking!! Sunny with clear blue skies, nice cool breezes, nice trail, and plenty of time to get to our destination. We left the motel early this morning to go to the P.O. to mail back our winter gear and to pick up mail. On the way we stopped at BoJangles to get breakfast and coffee. At the P.O. we got a package of brownies that our oldest daughter and her children had sent to us. Boy were they good!! Many hikers today enjoyed them as well. She also sent a couple of powdered drinks to put into our Nalgene water bottles--one was raspberry tea and the other was pink grapefruit. Both were delicious but the pink grapefruit was the one that was most refreshing. Then we got another box from our friend, Betty Crocker but we had no room for anything in it so we sent it on ahead to Waynesboro as we will need to resupply there. We'll look forward to the crackers, Creme Savers, candy bars, Pasta Side dishes, and everything else that was in the box. We should not have opened it and just sent it on up the trail and we would not have had to pay postage on it. But we were just too excited to see what it was--just like 2 kids on Christmas morning. On the way back to the motel, which was over a mile away, we got a ride so we saved some time and was able to get back on the trail by around 9:30. The trail is not far from the motel. Everything is really pretty close within walking distance but the traffic is so heavy and with the interstate interchange nearby it makes it a bit hazardous to be out walking.We both wore our new thinner socks today and our feet have hurt way less than before. We sent our heavier socks back and will probably not wear them again while we are hiking this year unless we get bigger boots. At the first shelter at about 6 miles we met up with Lucky and Packrat---we had met them back before Adkins. They had also taken a day off in town yesterday. They stopped here at this shelter but wanted to hike on to the next shelter about 7.5 miles further. They didn't leave here until around 4:30, though. We just did not feel like pushing that hard today. When we started out hiking this morning, Bowleg and Bono, his dog, were also starting out. They stayed at the first shelter because Bono has been having some paw issues. Bowleg had put mitts on Bono's front paws today to help ease the discomfort. Bowleg seemed down because of Bono's problem and I'm sure also because he is not able to do as many miles. He took 2 days off in Daleville to give Bono a rest.At this shelter tonight, but tenting are Mike (previously called Smiley but going by his real name now) and Dude. Stealth has a hammock but is cowboy camping unless he changes his mind before dark. Mountain Mike came in last and talked of going on up the trail. He was having problems with his pack but had it adjusted at the outfitter today and now it feels so much better he thinks he would like to hike on. But it is already almost 8PM. We are tenting. We both sleep well in the tent and it is not supposed to rain for a couple more days. After crawling into the tent this evening I saw a tick crawling on the inside of the zipped up screen. I have heard 2 people before now say they have seen ticks, but this is the first I have seen. The mountain laurels are really coming out into full bloom and there are many of them. The rhododendrums are also blooming so the trail is so beautiful with them and the azaleas. The azaleas have such a fragrant scent. The wind is blowing through the trees and sounds so good. It is going to be a great night to sleep. The humidity has been low all day and still is, so there should not be a lot of moisture on the tent in the morning. We plan to go 17 miles tomorrow to Jennings Creek. The creek is a popular swimmng place so Toto is excited about that. There are camping spots nearby so it should be a great place to end the day.      Life is Great!Dorothy & Toto