Date: 2014-05-19
From: Maupin field shelter

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

In which we talk ALL day about food.Food was a motivator today. We were headed into town, on our way to Waynesboro and you know what that means....FOOD! Town food. Real food. Ice cream! Cookie dough! You get the picture. I've learned that I can hike fast when there is food at the end of the day. So that's what I did. Breaks were taken intermittently along the curb to a pull over on the Blue Ridge Parkway and by some rocks. I successfully ate the remainder of food in my pack. Mission accomplished. I rolled into town with one pasta side to spare. That's it.We got near the last shelter before town and met some trail maintainers. They forewarned us of the creek crossing ahead wishing us safety. We didn't think much of that since there have been plenty of creek crossings and flowing streams for the past day. That's been the norm lately so what's another creek. We descended the mountain and could hear the sound of water, not unusual. We also saw a HUGE black snake all curled up under the greenery on the side of the trail. Fortunately it stayed there and we could pass. Finally, we got to the creek. Well it was no longer a "creek". This creek was now a full on river stretching over the entire path to the shelter, about 50 yards wide, and there were no rocks to hop and the current was fast and flowing. So this became our first fording across a river. I put my crocs on and strapped my shoes to my pack. I carefully put one foot in front of the other and soon found myself on the other side of the stream. The added benefit here was that my feet loved the cool water and it felt really good to soak them for a bit. Nice surprise! Five miles and one snack break later we made it to Rock Fish gap in record time. We had planned on going to the food truck for a snack while we waited for Dirty Harry and Fran. However, two guys in the parking lot called over asking if we needed a ride to town. Well, yes we did...however we were also waiting for two more people. So we ended up talking with them for quite a while. It's such a small world. They were ultra marathon runners and had just finished a run. Murphy and I have run marathons so we got talking about running and the trail and races. Then come to find out they know two people I do from Richmond in the ultra running world. So funny. Then Dirty Harry and Fran emerge from the trail and head over to the parking area.The runners offer to take us to town. At that same moment a father and son pair in a truck show up offering a ride also. We had passed them on the trail walking the opposite direction from us not too long ago. They had gotten off work and decided to go for a hike. We ended up piling in the back of their truck instead of climbing into to small cars, but much thanks to the runners for their conversation and offer. So in to town we went in the back of a pick up truck. It was an awesome ride. The kind of ride where I couldn't stop smiling, the sun was warming my back and the wind was blowing through my hair as I was jostling along. Was awesome!We got to the hotel, got a room, and went off in search of food. We have been talking about food all day and now the time has come where we can eat food! We had been dreaming of food and salivating over the thought of food all day and now it was decision time. We walked down the road to Heritage on Main and ordered round one, buffalo chicken dip with tortillas. Next I ordered a Cuban sandwich with onion rings. Oh so good, but I am finding out my stomach has shrunk and I can only eat little bits at a time. So I packed up the other half of my food and took it with. I felt so stuffed and full after just half a sandwich.Next up, a food resupply and Kroger was a block away. Grocery stores are like a candy shop to a hiker, this hiker at least. They can be overwhelming with all the choices of food and so exciting. So many possibilities of food to eat. The choices are unlimited! I spent way too much time combing the aisles from one end of the store back to the other. I got my bag of spinach salad and an avocado to pack out for dinner tomorrow night and an apple. I also have gone to the "dark side" and bought some Little Debbie's fudge brownies then more pop tarts and snickers bars. Stuff I would never eat but I crave out here and my appetite is beginning to pick up. The final task was to grab my ice cream for the night. That really was easy. I know what I want, a pint of Ben and Jerry's New York super fudge chunk! The best! We also got cookie dough for later.The sun has set and it's now dark outside and after nine o'clock. How did that happen? We walked back to the hotel to play more with our food and watch some TV. I'm still full from dinner. However, at 2330 I conquered another pint of ice cream with relative ease while watching the late shows. The cookie dough will have to wait for the morning. I'm full again.Was a great evening in town and now I am going to bed to dream of more food.