Date: 2003-05-11
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Fox Hill Inn
Miles today: 21.2

8:00p, Fox Hill Inn. Well, happy birthday to me. Where to start?I now know why I had such a crummy day yesterday; woke up this morning with cramps. The wind howled all night last night, and when I started stirring around 6:15a, the sky was a solid grey blanket of stratus. Headed out by 7:00a and immediately ran into a bunch of tenters, and ponies. Mares, foals, stallions, all lounging unconcernedly along the trail. The Grayson Highlands really are something; I'd love to see them in good weather, and with a pocketful of equine treats. As it was, my pockets were empty and it was raining hard. The wind never let up all morning, and the rain started around 8:00a. Hiking across those grass-covered balds in a cold, sideways rain was hard going. I had to use my pole to keep from getting blown over! As I was coming off Pine Mountain, where I got the worst of the rain, I saw a parking lot with a couple of RVs and an SUV. I was hoping mightily for some trail magic, but no one was around, so I stood in the lee of the information sign and wolfed down a dirt bar. Romeo popped out of the bathrooms and said he'd been in there for about 20 minutes, warming up, so I gave it a go. No wind and no rain, so it wasn't too bad.I was sure I was in for a miserable day, but it stopped about 11:00a, and I was already starting to dry out when I stopped in at Old Orchard Shelter for a snack and water. (No register!). Romeo was there, along with three other hikers, but I didn't stay long or see him after that. I believe he plans to rendezvous with Dirty Frank at Partnership Shelter Monday night for a pizza and beer bash.This afternoon's weather was everthing this morning's was not: sunny, dry, beautiful hiking weather. And past Comer Falls the rhodedendrons were spectacular. I'm bummed that I had such a jones on to get to the gap that I blew past the Falls and didn't stop to enjoy the foliage.When I got to Dickey Gap, I saw Ol' Smokey Lonesome, Zach's Dad, and two dudes that just got dropped off at the trailhead by a couple in a truck. They were getting ready to hit the trail, but Zach's Dad was hitching into town. Yay! No hitching alone. We quickly caught a ride in a pickup truck to the Trading Post, where the driver waited to make sure we reached someone at the Inn before heading off. As we waited for the innkeeper, I called Greg on the payphone while Zach's Dad bought a couple of Dr. Pepper sodas to share. Zach's Dad chatted with a pair of cyclists while I chatted with my sweetie, so nice!The innkeeper arrived -- Fullmoon, who hiked in, ah, '97? -- and took us to the Inn, which is beautiful, by the way. A pair of thru-hikers, an older couple by the names of Slug and Mumbo, were at the Inn, too. We settled in, had some beers left by previous hikers, and chatted for awhile. Turbo, the Inn's friendly feline, came by too for some pettin'. Good to get in a cat fix.Again, I timed it just right in order to be in a small, Southern town on a Sunday, so nothing was open, including the Trading Post, btw. But Fullmoon keeps a list of local restaurant menus and through calling around we found that Ona's Country Kitchen is open Sundays, and Fullmoon graciously drove us down there, where we got our dinners and supplies at the little attached grocery.Called Greg again around 6:00p, but I was just too tired to talk much. Hoping I'll feel better after a good night's rest.