Date: 2004-05-31
From: Tumbling Run Shelter

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: moderate rain

12.2? yeah, low mileage day. this morning was one of those in-a-cloud, light mist/rain kind of days. i stopped at rocky mtn shelter for an early lunch and then the weather turned to wind and rain. i decided i'd wait a little and see if it would change. to pass the time, i put my legs up on the shelter wall and let the blood flow easily back into the core of my body. a number of us have been trying this at breaks to see if it makes a difference. right now, i don't know, but it sure feels relaxing.the wind let up and i made my way back to the trail. my destination is US30 where i can find a small market one mile away. at the road crossing i see amy walking west. she thought the market was a right off the trail, and after a half mile, discovered it was the opposite way. we walked together the mile to the store. a hitch could not be had on this rainy day.at the little market i got food for the next four days. from amy's small pile it looked like she was going to resupply in a day or two. we had different destinations in mind today. i was going to go to quarry gap shelter and then decide if i wanted to move on. amy wanted to stay at the hostel 2 miles down the road so she could hitch to waynesboro to get a mail drop. one problem with her plans... the hostel is closed. our hitch back to the trail notified her the hostel was no longer in business. he suggested she stay at a shelter down the road. i was not familiar with the one he was talking about but asked amy if she was ok to go on with him. she said yes and i got off at the trail while she went further down the road. worlds colliding... amy's maildrop is at the p.o., but today is memorial day. this is what happens when trail time has to intersect with real world time. sometimes mistakes happen and you don't realize monday is a holiday until it's too late. i only found out monday was memorial day a few days ago. going northward, the trail wound its way through caladonia state park. i could smell grilled hot dogs in the air (torture, i tell you!). normally this would be a most triumphant place and time for thru hikers.state park + memorial day = picnics!oh, but add rain to that equation and the park was almost empty.in the misty rain i walked down the trail looking for picnickers. i ran into an older gentleman and his grandkids. the youngins, probably ranging in age from 3 to 7, were in awe of my leki sticks."what are those for?""they help me walk up and down hills.""why don't you use your shoes?""i do use them, these help me when the trail is very steep.""i think you should just use your shoes.""ok, i'll think about it.""what do you do for fun?""i hike, i relax in the sun (not today though), and i eat.""do you have playstation?""no, i don't even have a tv or electricity. i camp in the woods every night.""where's your home?""on my back. everything i have is in my backpack. i've been hiking for three months. every night i have a new home.""why do you use those sticks?..."at this point grandpa jumps in and says, "hey, do you want a hot dog and hamburger?""oh, yeah!" :-Dthe group of us go to a set of tents near a pavilion. there i meet the mother of these darlings and also grandpa's sons and daughters. i'm given a hamburger, hot dog, potato salad, chips, and soda. i got to sit, eat, and talk all about the trail and my experiences for about an hour. i bid them good-bye and grandpa gave me a hearty handshake and said, "good luck and be safe".i guess that's another fun thing i like to do on the trail - meet and talk to people.i got to the quarry gap shelter around 3:45. the next shelter is 7.x away and that includes two small climbs, so we're talking a minimum of 3 hours, more like 3.5. do i want to hike in the drizzle until 7-7:30pm so i can have my hiker ego satisfied?not! i think i'm getting better at this no schedule, no performance way of hiking. a twelve mile day still seems short, but i did resupply and yogi a fine meal. so, anyway, i chose to stay at this marvelously manicured shelter. this has got to be in the top 5 as far as shelters i've seen so far. it's got a stream in front, a spring for water, hanging plants, *clean* fire pit, *clean* floors, lots of pegs, clothespins, a bench, covered eating area, and some tent platforms. just really nice. and to top it off, it started pouring at 5pm, so my choice to stay was a good one.