Date: 2012-06-04
From: Trail to Jewel Hollow Overlook

To: Compton Peak
Miles today: 26.5

06/04/12 (pirmadienis) 26.5 ¢ 957.0 Trail to Jewel Hollow Overlook ¢ Compton PeakNakvyne ant kriau¡io, nuo kurio vakar gerejausi naktiniu Luray miestelio vaizdu, paliko man nei¡dildoma ispudi ir, kol tvarkiausi ir dejausi savo daiktus atgal i kuprine, mano 34vilgsnis vis nuklysdavo i 34emai slenyje bundanti miesta.Tuoj u34 Byrds Nest #3 ¡elterio pasukau ¡alutiniu takeliu ir jau u34 pusmylio 34ingsniavau plentu. Netrukus priejau Hazel Mountain Overlook ir buvau su34avetas dar man nematytu vaizdu: atsisukes veidu i tekancia saule vaikinas dare jogos pratimus. Trumpam ji u34kalbinau ir su34inojau kad jis yra i¡ Kalifornijos ir dabar sveciuojasi pas gimines.Vaizdas i saules nu¡viestus kalnus tikrai buvo fantasti¡kas. Kol jis dare joga, a¡ atsisedes ant akmenines sienutes gan ¡auniai u34kandau. Ma¡inu plente beveik nebuvo ir a¡ iki Mary's Rock tunelio nupedinau labai greitai. Nebetoli jau buvo ir Thorton Gap kur a¡ pasipild34iau vandeniu. Cia jau buvo keli thru-hikeriai, bet jie tranzuoja i Luray apsipirkti, o a¡ ilgai nelaukdamas vel 34ingsniavau toliau. Oras visai i¡sitaise.Veikiamas prisiminimu u34sukau i Gravel Spring ¡elteri u34kasti ir tuo paciu pasipild34iau savo vandens atsargas i¡ ¡altinio. Ivairi ¡iandien diena. Dali dienos ejau plentu, dali dienos originaliu AT. Kai anksti ryte ir velai vakare plentu nustoja zuiti turistu ma¡inos, eiti juo buvo palyginti saugu nes ir maksimalus greitis cia apribotas iki 40 myliu per valanda. Labai daug motociklininku, dviratininku, net kelis ¢kolegas¢ hikerius sutikau. Vaizdai i¡ilgai Skyline Drive yra puikus ir gal a¡ viena pats diena nuva34iuosiu Visa Blue Ridge Parkway ir Skyline Drive. Gal net motocikla nusipirksiu.Nakvynei u34lipau ant Compton Peak kalno, prie¡ tai dar susitikes su me¡kute. Cia, prie tekancio ¡altinio, matyt yra jos valdos. Ant vir¡unes radau lygia aik¡tele ir pasistates palapine i¡siviriau vakariene, kuria suvalgiau jau visi¡koje tamsoje, pasi¡viesdamas lempele.---|---The night on the knob, on which at nigh I have enjoyed Luray town views, left an indelible impression on me, and while I sorted and stuffed everything back in the backpack, my gaze was straying into the city awakening in the valley.Just pass Byrds Nest # 3 shelter I turned to the right on the side trail, and after half mile went on the highway. Soon I was at Hazel Mountain Overlook, and I was fascinated with unprecedented view: facing the rising sun guy was doing yoga exercises. Briefly I have spoken with him and found out that he is from California, and now he visiting relatives. View to the mountains lit in the sun was really fantastic. While he was doing yoga, I sat down on a stone wall and had some snacks.Highway was almost empty, and I reached Mary's Rock Tunnel fairly quickly. At Thorton Gap, I took some water. There have been a few thru-hikers, but they are hitch-hiking to Luray for resupply. So, soon I went back on the trail. Weather was perfect.Memories of my 2006¢s hike pushed me to visit Gravel Spring shelter where I remember was flowing absolutely enormous spring. Part of the day I walked the highway, part - the original AT. In the early morning and late evening highway isn¢t buzzing by motorists, so walking on sideway was relatively safe. The maximum speed limit here is 40 miles per hour and a lot of motorcycles, bicycles and cars were driving on this spectacular highway. I wasn¢t alone, even I have met a few "colleagues" hikers. Images along the Skyline Drive are delightful, and maybe one day I might drive the entire Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. Maybe even I¢m gonna buy a motorcycle.For the night, I climbed Compton Peak, but before it I have a meeting with the bear. Here, near flowing spring, he apparently has his holdings. On top, I pitched the tent, make supper and ate it in already complete darkness.