Date: 2018-05-10
From: Daleville

To: Bobletts Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.5

It always seems to be a little more difficult to get going the day after a Zero. Today was no different. Fortunately the first couple of miles were relatively flat. The trail here paralleled I-81, eventually crossing under the busy interstate. Then came US 11, another open pasture, and finally we were back in the forest, where we belong. It was heating up early today, so we were happy to have the now thick canopy above to provide shade. We spent most of the morning climbing up Fullhardt Knob, before descending to Curry Creek, where we took a break for lunch. On the menu was a delicious sandwich we picked up from the Kroger deli. Grabbing a sandwich for our first lunch or dinner coming off of a re-supply has become our modus operandi. After lunch we hiked about an hour before we heard the sound of thunder. I had a good signal most of the day, so I was able to bring up the radar on my phone. There was a pretty decent size storm heading our way and a special weather statement scrolling across the top of the screen indicating that we were under a severe thunderstorm watch until 5PM. It was about another mile uphill to the Wilson Creek Shelter, so we put it in high gear in hopes of making it to cover before the storm hit. We did. Another look at the radar showed that the storm missed us just to the north, but there was a larger cell still headed our way. We decided to hang out at the shelter and take a siesta until the storm passed. It never made it across the mountains before falling apart. As we were sitting inside the shelter, a man and woman came up the hill pulling a heavy-duty dolly with an eighty pound fire ring attached. It was Homer (our Daleville Trail Angel) and his wife Theresa. They had come a mile and a half up a side trail to the shelter to take out the old fire grate and put in the new ring. They will be doing this at all 16 of the shelters they maintain. The two of them wasted no time getting started. Theresa began clearing debris and excess dirt/soot from the spot, while Homer took a sledgehammer to some concrete around the old grate (which they would haul back down). Theresa looked to be 20 years younger than Homer. She was also one hard-working woman, clearing out rocks with a pick ax and removing debris from the area, one shovel scoop at a time. Homer joked that she was in charge. He wasn¢t joking though. It didn¢t feel right to sit there and watch the two of them do all of the work, so I jumped in to help. Within 15 minutes the shiny new fire ring was installed. Where are the steaks? Theresa said that the two of them and one other gentleman erected this particular shelter back in the late 1980¢s and the two of them continue to take care of it to this day. That is dedication! A big shout out to Homer and Theresa and everything they do to improve and maintain the A.T. in this area. After the project was done, we took a moment to admire our work, fist bumped Homer and Theresa, and resumed our hike. After a few miles we reached the Blue Ridge Parkway. We ended up crossing it at scenic view sites several times before the end of the day. Our hike ended with a race against another storm that also never arrived. Our final destination was the Bobblets Gap Shelter, which was located about 1/4 mile down hill from the trail. Just before we arrived, a section hiking couple was coming back up the trail stating that the water flow was good, but the shelter was full and there were no tent sites left. There were several section hikers staying in the shelter along with several thru hikers. Fortunately we knew all of the thru hikers and they were eager to accommodate. Besides, Which Way had had enough after over 18 miles on a hot day and she was not going back up that hill. We ended up pitching our tent next to Life Alert right on the path to the privy. Two final notes. First our new shoes held up fine. No new blisters for Which Way and the back of my heels felt much better at the end of the day. Finally, I heard back from Spirit Man. He was at Catawba today (about 3 days behind us) and doing fine. Another hard, but good day on the AT. Elevation Data:Ascent - 4,480Descent - 3,659Grade - 8.3Weather:Day - 78 / Mostly Sunny Night - 58 / ClearOver the Horizon: Shenandoah National Park