Date: 2015-05-01
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: light rain

I woke up last night because of the heavy rain falling in the shelter roof. The noise is almost soothing, except when you have to get up and step out into it. And then spend the rest of the day walking in it. At least today, the rain stopped in the morning and didn't pick up again until I was already in the shelter for the night. There was also a thick fog which made it impossible to see more than a few feet. A couple of times there were outcroppings where it seemed like there should be great views, but instead it was just a wall of grey. I set off about 7.15am into the fog. In the morning, I saw a deer on the trail. It watched me walking towards it for a while before running skittishly away. It occurred to me that there could be a lot of wild life around me all of the time that I just don't see because I'm so focused on the trail (so I don't trip over rocks/sticks/my own feet).As mentioned before, today the trail went close to a wayside. The wayside was about half a mile off trail, so technically today I added a mile more of hiking than officially recorded. The wayside was not what I expected. It was a large, lodge like building. It had a big gift shop that sold things like tshirts, snacks, and wine. Attached to the gift shop is a cafeteria that does breakfast lunch and dinner. The prices are a little bit more expensive than normal, but pretty much what you would expect for a glorified service station. I ordered a hot chocolate and the "Hikers Delight", which was 3 big pancakes with bacon. I drowned it with syrup and butter. It was a far superior lunch than my tortillas and Nutella would have been. I stayed there for maybe 45 minutes with Smasher and Second Guess. The wayside was warm and dry, whereas the trail was cold and dreary. It took a real determined effort to leave and return to the trail. The trail today had the usual ups and downs, but a few flat sections too. However, my knees are being particularly painful at the moment so the downhills take a long time. I had to bend down and sit on a log by the spring earlier, and it took me a good 30 seconds to painfully bend my knees that far. (Also a brief review of the Sawyer Squeeze Mini - it takes absolutely forever to use, either get the larger version or go with Aqua Mira.)As of today, I have hiked more than 900 miles, so it's no wonder than my body is really feeling the strain. All the other hikers around me seem to be falling apart too. Everyone is on a steady drip of ibuprofen or other painkillers. Like our equipment and clothes, our bodies are being worn down by the sheer quantity of hiking even when the terrain is fine. Now we're nearly at the end of Virginia, it seems safe to say that I haven't really felt the dreaded "Virginia Blues". This is used to describe the depression that hikers can fall into when walking through Virginia, as they realise how long the state is and just what exactly they have gotten themselves into. Virginia seems to be like every other state- it feels exceptionally long, but the time is also flying by. I think that the many towns in Virginia have really made a difference in my morale too, since without towns I probably would have quit by now. I enjoy being comfortable too much for someone who currently resides mostly outside. But, still, I hike on. Just like everyone else who has made it so far, I have my own strategy for being a hiking machine and just making it through each day without going crazy. I listen to podcasts or lectures all day long. Some people listen to music or audiobooks. Others sing aloud. Some meditate or think their own thoughts. Whatever method, it has to be enough to distract from the various aches and pains, to just keep going and going and going. Hiking just becomes part of the routine, and days without hiking feel strange and a bit empty, though those days are still usually wonderful and essential.