Date: 2008-04-26
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Woke up this morning at 6:15a to the glorious feeling of moisture dropping on my face. I tried to go back to bed because it was our first zero mile day in quite some time, but we hikers are finely tuned animals of habit!! I heard Yeti stirring around so we chatted as I was packing. The sun came out, so we--mainly me--decided to let our stuff dry out while waiting for the YMCA to open. By 9:30a, everything was dry and we left our stuff at the front desk while we walked to get some breakfast. As we crossed in front of the post office, some older lady in a car cracked her window and asked, "Are y'all hikers?" We responded and she flagged us over to her car. When we got there, we learned that it was Marguaritte, the trail angel that Nectar Medow Woods told us about. She offered us a ride to the Outfitters, which was a decent distance away, because she was passing by there anyway. So, we got in and finally got to meet Snickers and Energizer Turtle (SET Couple)...we've been trailing them for quite some time and it's always good to meet the hikers who are infront of you. Marguaritte dropped us off and told us that she would return after dropping SET Couple off at the trail. Well, Yeti and I walked around for a bit and he purchased some items to compensate for not receiving his summer gear package. We looked at the Mountain Hardware Mountain Kilts, but decided they weren't worth buying yet because we need to check our budgets. Then, Marguaritte returned and gave us a ride to Weasie's Diner so that we could eat. Alright, let me set the scene for you: Two "homeless" looking hikers walk into a restaurant surrounded by nicely dressed folk. Then, we discover that Weasie's Kitchen is home of the AYCE Pancake Breakfast--served all day--for $4.99. The pancakes are served as three 9-10inch cakes per plate and all you have to do is tell the waitress when you want another plate so they can cook it fresh!!! The record for the most eaten is 25 pancakes by a guy named "TWINKLE TOES." With that said, Yeti and I decided to each order the Pancake Platter. Being our day off, we decided to eat as many as possible. Sadly, I only ate 9 pancakes, 3 plates, because by the time the food came out, our stomach was telling our brain that we were full, but eating fresh hot pancakes with syrup and jam was AMAZING!!! Yeti and I finished eating, but flagged the General over from the Laundromat so that he could have some company. He came over and sat down beside us. While there, the waitress asked if Yeti and I wanted anymore pancakes, but we declined. Then, The General looked at us and said, "you should 'ave told 'er you were on a diet!" He's a pretty funny guy, which offers great segway into some of his stories: "While I was in town, during my 2004 Thru-Hike, some guys and I decided to play a game called 'Clean People Sniffing.' To play, we would see who could get the closest to a clean person and smell their cleanliness without getting caught. Well, I saw this woman looking at ice cream in the store and I decided to lean in and sniff her hair. She must 'ave known I was there because she turned around and looked at me, but I pointed to the freezer and said, 'Is that Vanilla?' Well, the guys I was with thought it was funny that I got caught and started laughing" Now for a second story from The General: He was once in a restaurant and he had placed his order. Well, the waitress kept asking him, "will that be all." To this, the General simply shook his head up and down--insinuating "Yeah." After a couple more rounds of this, she said, "would you talk to me?" The General looked at her slightly puzzled and she finished off with, "you sound like Sean Connery!" After recounting this tale, the General laughed and said, " Me? Like Sean Connery? That's funny!" Since we were about to enter the Shenandoah National Park (SNP), The General gave us his maps, which had shorter side trails to the Wayside Cafes, and described the trail for us: "This part of the trail shouldn't be a problem for you all based on the speed that you've been moving and because all the beauty of the park is near the lodges for the rich people to stay and enjoy the view while the 'hiker trash' is sent to the peasant path [the AT] along the ridges with no views and the sound of the cars!" We parted ways and Yeti and I headed over to Riverfest, a local festival focusing on how to keep the river clean. We chatted with the local Boy Scout troop about our hike and then went canoeing. Since Yeti was a scout and had been to Boundary Waters many times, we were allowed to commandeer ourselves. It was pretty fun!!! After leaving the Festival, we headed over to Food City to buy some Capri Suns. We got back to the YMCA and noticed that Jax was there. He had caught a hitch from Glasgow to here because he was suffering from some inflamed shins...ouch! Also, we met two SOBO flip-floppers named Sofa King and Big Daddy Duct Tape. We sat there and exchanged stories from the trail and life for hours. I think the funniest/strangest was about the General, who used to be in the British Armed Forces, during his tour of Northern Ireland...Funny that I mentioned this, eh, Yeti? At 5:30p, Toddy Bear and Mr. John Hardesty picked us up, along with our gear, so that we could all eat at Gavid's Steakhouse. This place had a great concept. What you do is, you order a meat item from the grill, pay for it and are welcomed to the AYCE buffet of sides, salads, dessert, and other food...and you only pay for the meat!!! I had 4 plates of food and--everyones favorite part--3 blackberry cobblers with ice cream. Then, Mr. Hardesty took us to Wal-Mart for a resupply and then back to his hotel room so that we wouldn't have to spend another night in the rain. I used Yeti's phone to call home because my charger is messed up and it felt good to hear the voices of loved ones! Happily, Yeti and I set up "camp" on the floor and began watching TV. Then, Mr. Hardesty pulled out a 12pack of Yeungling beer for everybody to indulge in while we watched The Alaska Experiment. I have to watch this show, on the Discovery Channel, when I get off...it's hilarious. Oh! I thought I would clarify why Yeti and I were happy to sleep on the floor. After awhile, your body get used to sleeping on hard surfaces, like the ground or the wooden platforms in shelters, and sleeping on a bed is no longer as comfortable as it once was...just ask Toddy Bear!!!