Date: 2004-05-19
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: light rain

There's a point in the journey where the names of the shelters just blur together. In the beginning someone could name a shelter in Georgia and you would recall who was there, what you had for dinner, and the temperature and weather. Although each day I still meet new people, I am having trouble remembering names, which town came first, how many miles I tried to do. The build up of memories on the Trail is kind of similar to how we recall things in life.Today was just plain painful. I wanted to challenge myself to another twenty miles and reach the Woodshole Hostel I had heard so many great things about. But my left leg felt worse today and no dose of Ibuprofen would subdue the pain.I'm inclined to believe it is a dreaded shin splint. So after an easy flat route from the road and the last shelter, Catdog convinced me to call it a short day. We both plan to hit Pearisburg tomorrow.This morning at the shelter there was no rain. So I placed all my stuff on the picnic table so as not to disturb my fellow hikers sleeping. Then it began to rain and I had to haul everything back under the overhang again. Sigh.The first one out of camp, I saw a deer valiantly run away by bolting up the steep brushy hill from the trail. No need to run, deer. I ain't going up a hill that fast to chase you.By 10 am, I reached what Wingfoot referred to as a reliable water source. It was a river with a suspension walking bridge over it. The color was chocolate brown and upstream was a lumber mill (I later learned). Quest, a mild mannered veterinarian and marathon runner, was crossing the bridge as I contemplated using the water. "I wouldn't" he said. I didn't.He convinced me that I should join him and Catdog for an early lunch at the country store .3 miles down the road. I can pick up some more Vitamin I (Ibuprofen) while I am at it and rest my leg, since I was limping now.We hung out at this small hunting/gas station/deli for a long time because our orders followed a huge order from the prison nearby. Nice area. Another rainstorm rolled in and wetted everything down. Who should we see outside but Bluegrass. It seems that no matter how fast he goes on the Trail, we are always bumping into him. I first met him at the Hiawassee Inn in Georgia.Quest watched Catdog glance at the map again. "You've been looking at that profile a lot," he remarked. "Have you managed to flatten any of those mountains yet?"After our celebration lunch (we had gone 600 miles) we headed back into the woods. I decided to stop at the Dismal Falls because I heard they were worth it. They were but I didn't stay very long. Lots of great camping spots.Here is what the weather has been like since I entered Virginia...sun, puffy clouds, blue skies, quickly change to dark clouds and thunder, pouring rain, clouds break, sun, repeat three times a day. Okay, the three times is an exaggeration but the instant thunderstorms are not.Funny. After a few days where water was scarce, we ended up hiking over many branches of the Dismal Creek. Watermark was high after all the downpours. Wapiti Shelter is near a raging section of the river. A good place for a wash-up, which I timed perfectly before more people showed at the shelter.Chicago, whom I met yesterday briefly, decided he had enough today and pitched his tent. Lumber arrived as well but was challenged by Ski Bum who said he was hiking the next 16 miles to Pearisburg. So after a nap, washup, dinner and a smoke, Lumber left as well. He came back three times though because he lost his watch. Found it and went on his way at 8 pm, 45 minutes before sunset.Not much to say except that I will be suffering the next sixteen miles to Pearisburg. Then I should take a zero day. I was looking over the miles from Atkins and found that I would have made it to Pearisburg tomorrow even if I did 15 mile days. Boy, do I feel stupid for trying to pull these long miles. Now I'm paying for it with a bad leg.