Date: 2005-05-27
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Bailey's Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: overcast clouds

4:26pm Star WarsI easily rolled into Pearisburg two days ago, hiking most of the afternoon with Live Strong. There were a few nice views from the ridge, but not a whole lot else to report from the hike itself. I called Crim as soon as we hit town outskirts to see if we could get a ride in from Phoenix, but it was not to be. They were in Blacksburg about to watch the new Star Wars movie. Oh well - the phone call was for naught but it gave Low Bridge enough time to catch up. We caught an easy hitch to town ("I've always wanted to pick up hikers," she said) and split a motel room at the Holiday Motor Lodge, which was soon filled up with the addition of Professor Nutbag.When we went to the sports bar next door, my stomach started feeling less than well. The 1 pound Big McQwire burger didn't help things and I was very uncomfortable by the time we got back to the room (just in time to watch Ken Jennings lose on Jeopardy's tournament of champions). Luckily I felt much, much better after a short nap. We went over to the laundromat and found out we didn't have time to do our laundry before closing time. No matter - we did anyways. Sure enough, the little old lady who ran the place came over to lock up at 9pm sharp, but was kind enough to lock us in and let us finish, with the understanding that we'd relock up when we were done. We did. I picked up a pint of Ben and Jerry's on the way back and topped the evening off with some quality TV watching.The plan for the next day was to go grocery shopping in the morning, hit the all you can eat Pizza Hut buffet, and return to the trail. I was on schedule up through the buffet until Phoenix mentioned she was shuttling Origami and Sam-I-Am to Blacksburg for the 1:45 showing of Star Wars. I perked up. Hiking could wait.It turned out that hiking would need to wait even longer. We couldn't find Origami and Sam-I-Am anywhere in town so the 1:45 showing was scrapped. Still, we rounded up Vapors and Indy, a guy I recently met who needed to go to the Blacksburg outfitters. The car was filled as we were on our way to the 3:15 showing.The lights dimmed and a familiar trumpet fanfare filled my ears. Two hours and fifteen minutes later, I walked out with a satisfied grin. Lucas finally got a prequel right. Here's my spoiler-free review: Episode III rocks.The one downside was that I got a very late start. Indy and I hit the trail together at 6:50 pm, my latest start so far. We hiked until it got dark and then kept hiking. We arrived at Rice Field Shelter a bit after 9:30 but elected to cowboy in the meadow out front instead. It was a beautiful evening. Still full from lunch, I ate a candy bar for supper and went to sleep beneath a sky filled with stars.For those of you not familiar with cowboy camping, it is a reference to old western movies in which the cowboys just lay their bedding out around the campfire without bothering with a tent. One advantage to this approach is that you are quite aware of when the sun is up. Consequently, I woke up well before seven and had breakfast on some nearby rocks, enjoying the view of low-lying fog in the valley below. It was only then that I headed over to the shelter and rendezvoused with Low Bridge and the Professor, who were just waking up. We swapped plans for the day and then I took off hiking. It was barely after eight.Though it occasionally threatened to rain, it was on the whole a beautiful day for hiking. I enjoyed a wonderful ridge walk even though it lacked any views. Lunch was had on a nondescript log under darkening skies, but the sun made a permanent reappearance once I started hiking again. I had a choice at the VA 635 intersection. A sign indicated that a bridge two miles up the trail was out and that one could avoid a ford by walking along the road instead. I opted to ford. It turned out to be pretty easy and rather refreshing. It also rinsed out my socks a bit, which should be appreciated by others tonight and in the days to come.When I arrived at the shelter a bit before four I was surprised to find Crazy Legs present. I expected him to be way up the trail, but he did a near 0 and hiked in a mere 1.5 miles to wait for us. So now we're just sitting around, chilling out on a gorgeous afternoon and waiting for everyone else to arrive.