Date: 2007-05-06
From: Punch Bowl Shelter

To: Bald Knob, Va
Miles today: 13.0

I woke up when the pack of "Macgyver's" family all woke up around daylight. It was around 40 degrees. I talked with them a bit as they were getting ready to leave. When Macgyver's uncle from Buffalo NY heard my name. He said, "the famous Zero" I said, "after my antics last night, more like infamous!". He said that he has been reading my journals online and I am hurting my reputation by hiking so much lately. It is really starting to amaze me how many people are reading this journal. It keeps me motivated; but, constantly thinking about living up or down to my reputation. Reminds me of when I was a semi-cult figure at that boys camp in Tn. Im not sure I like it; Im at least uncomfortable with my "infamy".They left and I went back to sleep; after blowing my mat back up. I slept about another 2 hours with some wild dreams and I slept warm in the sun and let me gear dry in the sun. When I awoke, I talked with a local young man all decked out in miliatary garb. He had slept on the ground last night; so, a thru hiker could have the last spot in the shelter. I sure appreciated that! He went to The Virginia Miliatary Academy. We talked alot about "the war of northern aggression."(that is the civil war to you yankees). I know people up north do not understand how alive the loss of the war is here(not was). We talked about The civil war battle of New Market where the cadets at VMI were used as reserves and were actually used to fill a whole in the lines and repel a yankee attack. It was a victory; but, the south lost the pride of the confederacy: Thomas Jefferson the 3rd(Massa Tom's grandson). I finally left the shelter around 1 or 2. It was a sunny; but cool day. I was fired up and did some good hiking to the Brown Mtn Creek Shelter. Of course, alot of puds to get here; but, they are physically easy now. They can be mentally challenging, though, up & down, over and over. This is a beautiful section going around The Lynchburg resevoir(which the trail organizers try to keep you away from, due to terrorists concerns. More like the local "blue bloods" dont want you swimming in their drinking water). At the very end of the lake; there is a spot where you can get down to the water; but, it is steep and you have to look for it. The section right before the shelter is an old settlement that once had a freed slave settlement with nice rock walls along a roaring creek. I got to the shelter and from the register, I found out that Mo and Snackbreak left out of here at 2am to get to The Dutch Haus B&B for their advertised free lunch. Being a self-centered guy; I thought, "that if I did not know Mo and his character, I would think he was trying to out run me." But, I know they just wanted that free lunch .As I was preparing a giant evening meal; I talked with a flip flopper thru-hiker named O.D. Man, he talked my ear off. I got going as it began to get dark. O.D. said that I was crazy because it was about 5 miles up from here. He said look for a cooler up by US 60 with trail magic in it. I got to US 60 without stopping and found the cooler empty. I cussed Grasshopper for not leaving me anything; which was Irrational as who knows what the deal was. As I climbed up to Bald Knob, I put on a head covering and put my headlamp on. I went to turn the lamp on and got nothing. I could not believe it. This lamp never runs out of juice. In my haste last night, I must have left it on. Man, this meant that I needed to set up camp right now; while I have some light! I did this very fast. I knew this was going to be a tough night as it was cold, windy, and no insulation from the ground. I did sleep much better than I thought; but, would wake up freezing with my extremities asleep.