Date: 2009-05-30
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: scattered clouds

May 30 -- written May 31I'm here at the laundromat in Waynesboro, VA on an unplanned stop off the trail, I have only a partial small cannister of fuel and the last 2 restock places didnt come through. As as one thing would lead to another, I am waiting for the local outfitter , who is on the other side of town, to open, if it does open on Sunday, I washed the clothes that I wore into town in the bathroom sink and I am now watching the tumble dry a 25c/7:10min until room checkout at 11:00. I have a phone number of a hiker support group, senior hiker angels, who will shuttle me back 4 1/2m to the trail, we'll see how that works, esp on Sunday. Last night I over bought stuff at Kroger's so I'll be going heavy into Shenandoah Nat'l Park today loaded with smelly items, where I hear that the bears are real hungry. Maybe I shouldn't've washed my bear repellent socks. Yesterday was a great hiking day, sunny most of the day, many overloks, varied trail in elevation changes and path texture. There were quite a number of weekenders and I came across a trail crew of about 20 people, all ages and genders, split into 2 groups, digging out large rocks from the woods to use as steps and removing smaller, but not necessarily small, rocks from the existing path. They seemed cheerful about the efforts and friendly and willing to talk about thru-hiking. I asked them to keep any left over rocks nearby and not to send them to PA. The repetition of daily rountine has caused recent memories to blend and blurr, and good reason why these memories and thoughts should be recorded every day. The repeating of thoughts and ideas are reinforced, like stories and songs, and any outside stimulus will set them off. It is expected, just as repetition of the trail, the path goes down to a river crossing or roadway, or gap, and then a climb of some degree will follow shortly there after. What is strange is the repetition of a different sort that is occurring lately, people. I keep running into them. Not just thru-hikers, I expect that. It started eleven days ago when hiking down Tinker Cliffs, I came upon a group of 4 older type, possibly my age, guys taking a break at a sign post at the Andy Layne Trail. I needed water and I knew the Lambert Meadow Shelter was close. "Howdy, nice day", I may've said. "The forecast calls for thunderstorms", one replied, "You're 1/2m from the shelter", he added, as I glanced at the signpost that clearly stated LMS 0.6m, I said, "That's good, I need water". "Doesn't everybody?", he snapped. Wow, what was that, I thought as I made my way down the path. I wasted no time getting wasster and they never showed up, strange. It was 2 days later when I used the day hiker's cell phoen and that group surprised me by driving north the next day to hike another section, hey, you again? My ranger friend Eric had driven me to the camp store at the end of the same day that I used the guy's phone on the trail, then, 2 days later as I am getting out of Ken's car after the ride from Glascow, ranger Eric drives up, gets out and we greet like old pals. 2 days later I get to the Dutch Haus and as Lois is driving up the driveway, she says, "Why is that guy standing next to that car?" sort of out loud to herself. I was groggy after 3 days of rain and couldn't keep up with even simple questions. She starts a conversation with the guy, he says to me, "Hey, I've seen you on the trail", and they are talking about accommodations and shuttles and then he wants to see the bunkhouse, and I was a little steamed by standing around not knowing how long I would be standing around. Anyway, he drove off, and, 2 days later I see the driveway guy coming off a mountain from Harpers Creek Shelter towards the Tye River, VA56. He asks, "How far is the river?", I remebered a signpost near the river says, "HC Shelter, 2.5m", so I asked, "How far are you from the shelter, the shelter is 2.5m from the river." "No", he says, "its 1.7m, that's what the sign said", and went on to explain how they are always wrong. I couldn't argue that, and I moved on. Within 10 minutes it hit me. That was the 0.6m guy from a week earlier, and it confirmed when I saw the posted signs, pointing south, "VA56 1.7m" and pointing north, "Harpers Creek Shelter 0.8m" Slack pack hiker from Ontario.