Date: 2010-05-10
From: Jenkins

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Yesterday was one of the lower parts of the trip for me. Spirit wise. Felt rotten and poisonous a little. I'm in a hurry but that's not it. The lady at the Exxon station really bugged me. Disappointed me that someone could be so despicable. Not necessarily her but the business itself. Charging hikers those prices! Shameful. That and my gas station boxed potatoes sucked! Yuck. I have "Onion Dip" soup mix to add to them. That makes it even worse. Unpalatable. My main course consisted of "Complete" microwaveable meals. Nasty. Sign on the shelter at Jenkins mentioned, "Free Breakfast AYCE on Mondays at 9:30am". I was unsure of it's legitimacy. Questioned it, but hopeful. Needless to say, I set my alarm and the last 5 miles down the trail were the easiest so far. They're picking us up at VA615. Waiting on the shuttle I gave Caribou my tweezers to remove ticks from Yolo. I told him about Frontline. I wondered if he'd use it if I got him some? I really like him, he's a nice guy. Caribou already found three ticks on himself.The shuttle arrived in the form of a truck and a small car. A man from the Netherlands was driving the car I rode in. This group of Trail Angels are called, A.T.O.M. Appalachian Trail Outreach Ministry. We arrived at the Church and were provided with a sink and soap to wash our dirty hands. A Thanksgiving feast was then laid out before us. We were offered "Seconds". There's a foreign term! These are the sweetest, kindest, most honorable Christians I've ever met. You could see it in each others eyes, could hear it in our voices; how unexpectedly, absolutely thankful we were to the very core of our adventurous spirits. The way those Angels looked into our eyes when we said, "Thank You!" made me melt inside a little. They even had baskets of trail snacks that we could select from at will. Ad Lib! What an answer to my dilemma! We were even provided with a free shuttle to town if we needed it. I needed it! It couldn't have came at a better time for me. I knew I didn't have enough food for a run to Pearisburg. That's what had me down yesterday! I worried and gave myself a headache trying to figure it out, when it was already taken care of. Providence or coincidence, I'll leave it to your imagination. Everything, gonna be alright! I really wish I could live by the lyrics of that simple song. These people fed some of the best people I know today. People who deserve their brand of kindness. We're one in the same. The Trail Angels provided us with the belief in a better humanity. We're here trying to believe in what they showed us today. That the world is a kind place. And you CAN count on each other!My farts today smelled like what you'd get if you put a jar of Peanut butter on a red hot cast iron skillet and let it burn baby, burn! I had to out run the things. Gnarly.Shuttled to the grocery store with the pastor of the church. Excellent selection of food at the IGA in Bland. Loving the produce and fruit stand!Back on the trail by lunch! Time to put that breakfast to work. The way I'd described "Molasses" to a yankee at breakfast was, "It's like Jet Fuel for Humans". I couldn't feel my feet for the first 10 miles! I passed Barnibus and company. Passed Hoofin It and Flying Scotsman. They're some salty boys. Roughnecks. The trail gets really close to I-77. It looks like Arizona because of the cut away man made rock formations. I ran down the pavement on the shoulder of the highway. Felt good to run again. I have missed it. It's not as pleasant with a pack on though. Hungry again at the creek. Ate cookies from breakfast. Wow, God bless them! I totally needed that! Felt like some kind of affirmation of this journey when things like that happen. At least that's what I tell myself.At the shelter with Tattoo, Sweet Tea, Funk and Spirit Walker. Spirit Walker is Funk's father. Spirit Walker is definitely the culprit that kept me awake all night at Kincora. He snores like one of those African tribes people with the plates in their mouths. It's a loose floppy snore mixed with the howl of a moose being attacked by a grizzly bear. You could feel the shelter vibrate when he snored! Incredible! I think he's a Doctor. He's accustom to harsh sleeping environments already. He has the capacity to sleep at any given moment. Funk (former Thru-hiker) told us about his New Jersey experience. Apparently, he hiked the section twice the last time. Once in the right direction. And then another time in the wrong direction. When he arrived back in Delaware Water Gap he was pissed. He didn't want to talk about it. He just wanted to be left alone.Slept in the tent behind the shelter. Still had Slept in the tent behind the shelter. Still had to wear earplugs to keep from hearing him. Dilly Dally and Cubby in late, they made it!