Date: 2015-06-02
From: Hightop Hut

To: Bootens Gap
Miles today: 15.0

Rain, rain rain! We just finished dinner last night and had crawled onto our tent. We were relaxing a bit before finishing up for the day. When all of a sudden, we heard drip, drip, drip on the tent and then the rain started. We could see flashes of lightning and heard booms of thunder. The flashes brightened the inside of our tent as if we had turned on a light. The thunder rolled on and on. I don't think it could have rained any harder. It would slow down once and awhile but then it would soon be pouring again. Buckets of water were being poured from the sky. Well, that is what it sounded like. This went on all night and made it difficult to sleep. Fortunately the tent had no leaks though we did have some water splashing in from the puddles outside our tent. We woke up in the morning and heard it raining so we layed there for a half hour or more until we heard the rain slowing down. We ate breakfast in the tent and then quickly broke camp. As Lavender was rolling up her sleeping pad, a salamander crawled from under it. Believe it or not, she didn't scream, more like she shrieked. Then she unzipped the tent and pushed it outside. She didn't want to think about it being in the tent all night. We put away our soaking wet tent and started hiking around 0725. It was drizzling a bit but we're getting wetter from water dropping off the trees than from the rain. Our boots were soon soaked from the grass along the path which was soaking wet. It was nice to know that we had family picking us up later in the day!    We climbed up for about 500 feet and then it was a steady descent over the next several miles down the the US route 33 bridge crossing.   This is where we were to be picked up but since it was only 0900, we decided to continue hiking. Champagne Jam caught up to us as we debated to continue hiking. The next several miles were all uphill, about 1300 feet in elevation gain, to Baldface mountain. Then of course it was downhill for a few miles to Lewis Mountain campground where we stopped by the camp store for something to drink and eat for lunch. We sat there with Outlier, Trudge and Champagne Jam. We had a good time talking and having our lunch a b d deciding what to do about our wet tents. We didn't have to think to hard as we knew we would be in a nice, dry, warm home tonight.   Lavender and I hiked on without the others as we had to be somewhere on the Skyline drive by 1430. We hiked about 3.4 miles after lunch. We were at a parking lot by Skyline drive and walked to the road. Of course, we had no cell phone service, so we had to hitch back to US route 33. It was 1415. Good timing.    Now, could we be fortunate enough to find a hitch? Cars went past us going North. We needed a car going South. Since the weather was drizzling and foggy, not many cars were on the drive. There was nothing to see at the overlooks except white fog. We said a quick prayer asking for a Southbound car. We heard a car. Could it be, a car going South? It was, it was. Now, we had to look pitiful. We stuck our our thumbs and tried to look pitiful. The car passed. Oh well, hopefully the next car. But no, the car stopped. It was a young couple. They asked if we were okay. We said yes, we just needed a ride to US route 33. They looked at each other and said they could take us. But, they had to make room. The backseat of the car was full of wet jackets. They threw everything into the trunk. We crawled in the backseat holding our packs. We didn't mind, we had a ride. This young couple was from Michigan. They were in Shenandoah for holiday. But, they were tired of the rain. They were going home early. Guess there was a reason for the rain. They took us to US route 33. We walked out to the entrance station for the park and waited for our pick up. It was just a few short minutes when, Lavender's cousin, Anita drove up with one of her grandchildren, Loretta.   Hellos and hugs were exchanged and then we were on our way. Of course snacks and drinks, along with towels to dry off with and blankets, were offered. We used all of these. It was cool and rainy today. It felt good to cover up with a soft blanket. Soon, we arrived at their home. It was very picturesque. The farm house with large porches, the barn with numerous silos and the surrounding rolling farm fields. This is the real American landscape. We went into the house and were given a tour of the house by Anita with some help from Loretta.   We had a huge bedroom with a king size bed with comfy pillows for the night.   The bed itself is probably twice the size of our tent. Oh, it will be a great night's sleep.   We quickly got our showers and layed out our gear to dry out. We washed our hiking clothes. Then we had some time for conversation with both Gerald and Anita. Anita took us to their other farm where we saw their calf barn and two one-day old calves. Even though we aren't farmers, we tried to help Anita feed the bigger calves. We also saw the milking pallor. What an operation it is.    We were pleasantly surprised when Simeon and Louise along with their children showed up for dinner. We thanked Simeon and Louise for the trail magic they left for us and told them how much it meant to us. Soon we were all seated in the Blue Ridge room, their sun room with a view to the Blue Ridge mountains, and were served a great meal - a great home cooked meal. And did we eat! Lavender ate two and a half pieces of Poor man's steak. Count ate three. We each ate two pieces of ham, three servings of mac and cheeses, potatoes and salad. But we also ate homemade sourdough rolls. We should have taken some for on the trail! Then for dessert, we had strawberry shortcake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream made by Louise. We ate at least three helpings each of the strawberries. Our tummies were satisfied. We were so content. We had great conversations with all. Of course, we talked about "normal" life on the trail. And they told us about their lives. We had such a great relaxing time with them. We got to know them so much. It is sort of sad it takes us hiking over 900 miles to get to know cousins. It was so wonderful being in a loving home. We had to say goodbye to Simeon and Louise and their children as it is an hour drive for them. Because of Skyline drive, they have to drive and hour home instead of being able to only drive 20 minutes. Thankfully, they were willing to drive. Hiker's midnight was past. Gerald gets up early for the farm. We said our good nights. We went upstairs, crawled into the nice, warm, soft, dry bed and went to sleep within minutes. We had no rain, no Whippoorwills keeping us awake. Just sweet dreams and contentment.