Date: 2012-06-12
From: Harpers Creek Shelter

To: Rockfish Gap-Waynesboro Church hostel
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Have I mentioned I'm not very good at picking spots to tent? The footprint began collecting rain or runoff as I hastily staked it out. At the time it wasn't a big deal and I thought I could wait until it stopped raining to stop it from pooling under my tent. Unfortunately, it didn¢t let up until around nine in the morning so anything not on my Thermarest got damp. It also cost me a few hours of sleep before I finally got up and out on the trail before six.About fifty yards past the turn off to the shelter, there had been a large blow down during the night. I remember being woken by a large crack that I mistook for thunder before immediately falling back asleep. I'm glad I didn't know what it was at the time or it would have made for an even more restless night.Going up the rock stairs of today's first mountain, I slipped and threw my back against the rock wall on the left side of the trail as opposed to going over the right. It actually worked! Whatever was in my pack took the brunt of the impact and I managed to regain my balance without falling. I actually slipped dozens of times today as it rained off and on over the rock covered trail throughout the day. I saved myself from falling one time by doing a three-sixty while stabbing one pole into the ground repeatedly. It happened while I was walking and admiring the view near a cliff so I was glad not to be too close to the edge at the time. I also almost did a face plant, throwing my poles and Aqua Mira cap away and catching myself with one hand and knee because I was walking with the cap in one hand and poles in the other instead of sitting and waiting the five minutes for the drops to mix.Unlike yesterday, I took some pictures before and after the rainstorms. Of course the rain stopped once I put my rain pants on and started again when I began to get hot and took them off.I saw Robo, again, today but left him at the last shelter before Waynesboro because I wanted to get to town. I could hear thunder in the distance so I decided to run parts of the last couple miles to get to the road and catch a hitch before it rained and I got drenched. The thunderstorm hit before I reached my goal, but I got lucky as Santa¢s Helper was waiting at the gap to drive a hiker I ran past in the last two miles to the church hostel in town. Unfortunately, I lost my pack cover, which came off during the last stretch of trail without me noticing, and my backpack had started to get wet. Lucky for me, the van was there to keep my stuff from getting any wetter. Santa's Helper also called to check that the hostel had room for me and drove me there when the other hiker arrived. I¢ll definitely need a day off tomorrow. My feet look like a bulldog and are killing me. I had to stop a few times during the day to dip them in streams to cool them down. The pain was bad enough that I was about to ask if I could cook a rice side in the kitchen for dinner as opposed to walking to the Chinese restaurant. Just as the guy in charge for the night was telling me, another one of the parishioners showed up with pizza to give to the hikers for dinner! I had seven slices, three or four glasses of OJ or lemonade and cookies. Hopefully, my feet will feel better tomorrow.